Music
Joe Billingslea
born 1937 · singer
Hamtramck-born founder of the Contours, whose "Do You Love Me" (1962) was the Gordy label's first million seller.
- Born
Hamtramck, Michigan
age 88- Birth name
- Joseph Billingslea Jr.
- Detroit years
- 1937–
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Billingslea was born in Hamtramck and raised in Detroit, singing in the boys' choir at Chadsey High School before four years in the Air Force. Back in Detroit in 1958, he and school friend Billy Gordon formed the Blenders through a newspaper ad; with Billy Hoggs, Leroy Fair and bass singer Hubert Johnson they became the Contours. Motown first turned them down, but a visit to Johnson's cousin Jackie Wilson helped get them signed. In 1962 "Do You Love Me", released on the new Gordy label, reached number one on the R&B chart and number three pop, Motown's fastest-rising hit; "Shake Sherry" followed. After creative disputes he left Motown in 1964, worked at the Dodge Truck Plant in Warren, where he became a UAW chief steward, then served with the Wayne County Sheriff's Department and the Detroit Correctional Department. He re-formed the Contours in 1971 and kept touring for decades.
Highlights
- Co-founded the Contours in Detroit (1959)
- "Do You Love Me" (1962): No. 1 R&B, No. 3 pop, first Gordy-label million seller
- UAW chief steward at the Dodge Truck Plant in Warren (1965)
- Re-formed the Contours in 1971
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Recorded here · 1960–1964
Motown Museum
The Contours recorded "Do You Love Me" and their other Motown sides here.
Worked here · 1964–1968
Warren Truck Assembly (Dodge Truck Plant)
Status being checked
He worked at Chrysler's Dodge Truck Plant and was elected UAW chief steward in 1965.