Background
Billingslea was born Joseph Billingslea, Junior. on November 14, 1937 in Hamtramck, Michigan.
Billingslea was born Joseph Billingslea, Junior. on November 14, 1937 in Hamtramck, Michigan.
He sang with the boys" choir while attending Chadsey High School where he graduated in 1954.
The Contours was best known for its 1962 hit single, "Do You Love Maine". After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. While stationed in the Maine, Billingslea formed a vocal group with four other airmen called the "Revere Tone Five".
After receiving an honorable discharge following his four-year stint, he returned to Detroit in 1958.
In 1958, the group disbanded, so Billingslea and Gordon decided to form a new vocal group. Billingslea placed a want-ad in the local newspaper looking for singers.
Billy Hoggs responded to the ad and became the group"s third member. In 1959, Hubert Johnson was added, making the group a quintet.
At Billingslea"s suggestion, the group renamed itself "The Contours".
That same year year, the group signed a recording contract with Motown. The group released two records in 1960 and 1961 but got their big break in 1962 when the single Do You Love Maine was recorded on Motown"s newest label, "Gordy". Within two weeks of its release, the song was at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, taking the #1 spot on the Rhythm & Blues charts and #3 on the popular charts.
lieutenant remained on the charts for five months.
The song was the Gordy label"s first million-seller, and it still holds the record as Motown"s fastest rising hit of all time. In 1963, Billingslea and the group charted another hit, sending Shake Sherry to the #21 position on the Rhythm & Blues charts (#43 popular).
In 1964, they released Can You Do lieutenant which reached #41 on the Rhythm & Blues charts. Still in 1964, they recorded a ballad entitled That Day When She Needed Maine.
Billingslea, along with Hoggs, Johnson and fellow Contours member Sylvester Potts, departed from Motown in 1964.
The group had creative differences with Motown and left. After leaving Motown, Billingslea took a job for the Chrysler Corporation at the Dodge Truck Plant in Warren, Michigan. He left Chrysler in 1965.
That same year, he accepted a job for United Automobile Workers as a chief steward.
He resigned from United Auto Workers in 1968 to join the Wayne County Sheriff"s Department. In 1977, he put his years of law enforcement experience to work by joining the Detroit Correctional Department, eventually reaching the rank of Sergeant.
In 1971, Billingslea reunited The Contours. The group, and Billingslea with it, play across the country even today.
There has also been several new additions to the band.
At Hoggs" recommendation, his friend Billy Rollins, became the fourth member of a group they named "The Blenders".