One-Hit Wonder: The Contours

Just by placing an ad, a group is formed. Members changed along with the group's name. The Blenders quickly changed to The Contours, according to their website.

First Joe Billingslea and Billy Gordon were part of The Majestics in the late 1950s. The two left to form their own group by placing an ad that was answered by Billy Hoggs, who suggested adding his neighbor Billy Rollins. The Blenders were formed.

Rollins was replaced by Leroy Fair. The quartet became a quintet by adding Hubert Johnson. It was fall 1960 when the group recorded at Flick and Contour Records. Even though the audition did not go well, Billingslea suggested changing the groups name to The Contours, after the record company's name. They agreed.

The Contours auditioned for Motown Records but were turned down. Johnson, a cousin of Jackie Wilson, and the group went to Wilson for advice. Wilson was able to get them a second trip at Motown and it was successful.

The Contours released "Whole Lotta Woman" in 1961 but it did not chart. Fair was replaced by Bennie Reeves, who was called to duty by the U.S. Navy. Reeves was replaced by Sylvester Potts. They recorded "The Stretch" and once again they did not chart.

The Contours signed with a new label in 1962 and recorded "Do You Love Me," which topped the charts. The songs that followed did not reach the Top 10.

In 1964, the group was reconstructed. Council Gay, Jerry Green and Alvin English joined Billy Gordon, one of the founding members, to make The Contours a quartet. The songs they released did not reach the Top Ten. Members left and were replaced, eventually they did disband in the late '60s.

Joe Billingslea, a founding member, put the Contours together again in 1971 and toured. Joe was joined by Gay, Arthur Hinson, Martin Upshire and C. Autry Hatcher in 1981. Members changed with some returning.

The Contours' "Do You Love Me" was featured in Dirty Dancing in 1987, putting it back on the charts and peaking at No. 11 in 1988. The Contours joined the Dirty Dancing Concert Tour with Bill Medley, Eric Carmen and others that included some dancers.

The group went through changing members in 1990 and have been featured on many shows.

The Contours were inducted to the Rock 'n' Roll Walk of Fame in 1989. In 2000, they received the Smokey Robinson Heroes and Legends Award.