Biography
The Contours formed as an R&B vocal group in Detroit in 1959, featuring lead vocalist Billy Gordon, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea and Sylvester Potts. Hubert Johnson (14 January 1941, d. 11 July 1981) joined the line-up in 1960, and it was his cousin Jackie Wilson who secured the group an audition and then a contract with Motown Records in 1961. Initial singles proved unsuccessful, but in 1962 the dance-orientated number ‘Do You Love Me’ became one of the label’s biggest hits to date, topping the R&B charts and reaching number 3 in the US pop listing. The same frantic blend of R&B and the twist dance craze powered the follow-up, ‘Shake Sherry’, in 1963. Both songs heavily influenced the British beat group scene, with ‘Do You Love Me’ being covered by Brian Poole And The Tremeloes, Faron’s Flamingos and the Dave Clark Five. Unfortunately, the Contours were unable to capitalize on their early success, and their...
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