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The ContoursThe road to a Motown recording contract was a rough one for The Contours. Berry Gordy wasn't very impressed with The Contours following a three-song audition in 1959 and sent them on their way. Hubert Johnson, one of the original members of The Contours thought his cousin, Jackie Wilson might be able to help with some much-needed advice. Wilson, a rock and roll legend by this time asked the group to perform some of their material for him. Once he was satisfied, Wilson called his old friend Berry Gordy back at the Motown offices. The very next day The Contours had a seven-year recording contract with the Gordy label. In the summer of 1962, The Contours hit the jackpot with the Berry Gordy penned classic "Do You Love Me " This tune became the groups biggest hit as well as MotownÕs fastest climbing hit of all time. Within two weeks of its release, "Do You Love Me" became the #2 record in the nation as well as the groups first gold record. The ensuing year brought forth such Contours hits as "Shake Sherrie," "Can You Do It," "Jerk Like Me," "Just A Little Misunderstanding" and "First I Look At The Purse." Today, under the leadership of original members, Joe Billingslea and Sylvester Potts, The Contours are center stage once again. Their high-energy Motown show encompasses all of the spirit that made those wonderful "Motown Revues" so popular back in the 1960's. Their material highlights all of the huge hits that came out of Motown during the 60's & 70's from The Temptations, Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, The Miracles and of course all of the great Contours classics. Much of the resurgence in The Contours popularity has to do with the 1988 Academy Award winning film, "Dirty Dancing." Their hit "Do You Love Me" was featured in the film, and became so popular that it gave birth to an international tour entitled "The Dirty Dancing Tour" starring The Contours, Bill Medley, Merry Clayton and Eric Carmen. That tour lasted 10 months and played to over 2 million fans in 8 countries before it ceased production. During this time, Motown Records was quick to capitalize on The Contours popularity by reissuing their original version of "Do You Love Me" in single and album form. That move paid great dividends for everyone as "Do You Love Me" climbed to #11 on the national charts. In 1962, "Do You Love Me" sold just over 1 million copies worldwide as a single or as part of the RCA album, "More Dirty Dancing." In current developments with The Contours, two of their tunes "Do You Love Me" and First I Look At The Purse" were part of a 4 CD box set titled "Hitsville USA-1959 to 1972" which was recently certified Gold. It would appear that lightning has not only struck twice, but 3 times for The Contours anthem, "Do You Love Me." |
