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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCONTOURS, TheSoul vocal quintet formed '58 in Detroit as quartet: Billy Gordon, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, Sylvester Potts. Hubert Johnson joined; his cousin Jackie Wilson got them audition with Berry Gordy (although not signed to Motown, Wilson had big hits with songs written by Gordy); Contours made flop single, Wilson got them one more chance, this time joined by Huey Davis (guitar) on Gordy song "Do You Love Me': no. 1 R&B, 3 pop '62; covers by Brian Poole and the Tremeloes and the Dave Clark Five were big hits in UK. Had 7 top 40 hits in R&B chart '62-7 (minor classics "First I Look At The Purse', "Just A Little Misunderstanding'; latter became sole UK top 40 '70) but never made pop top 40 USA again. Continued to record in '70s with personnel changes: among latterday Contours incl. Joe Stubbs (brother of Four Tops' Levi Stubbs) and later Temptation Dennis Edwards. |