Billy Gordon, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea and Billy Rollins founded a singing group called The Blenders in their native Detroit, Michigan in 1959. The group soon added Leroy Fair (in place of Billy Rollins), bass singer Hubert Johnson, and guitarist Huey Davis, and auditioned for Berry Gordy's Motown Records. Gordy turned the act down, prompting Johnson to call his cousin, R&B star and Gordy associate Jackie Wilson. Wilson in turn got The Contours a second audition with Gordy, at which they sang the same songs they had at the first audition, the same way, and were signed to the company.
The group's first singles, "Whole Lotta Woman" and "The Stretch", were unsuccessful, and the group was in danger of being let go. Also at this time, Leroy Fair was replaced with Sylvester Potts. In early 1962, Gordy had the Contours record "Do You Love Me", a composition originally meant for The Temptations. The resulting record, with its shouted lead vocals from Billy Gordon, became a number-two hit 1962.
In 1964, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, Hubert Johnson, and Sylvester Potts all quit the group. Berry Gordy hired Council Gay, Jerry Green and Alvin English to back Billy Gordon, making the Contours a quartet. Within a year, Sylvester Potts returned to the group (replacing Alvin English), but Billy Gordon departed at about the same time. Gordon was replaced by Joe Stubbs, brother of Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs. Stubbs soon quit the act and was replaced by Dennis Edwards.
During the mid-1960s, The Contours recorded several records which received R&B radio play (notably "First I Look At The Purse" and "Just a Little Misunderstanding"), but were considered secondary to Motown's major male vocal groups: The Temptations, the Four Tops, and The Miracles. The group's contract with Motown expired in 1967, and the Contours disbanded. Lead singer Dennis Edwards was recruited to replace the departed David Ruffin as lead singer of The Temptations. Edwards later became a solo hitsmaker as well.
After the group's demise, Joe Billingslea has reformed the Contours several times. Billingslea first resurrected the group in 1971, with himself, Council Gay, Arthur Hinson, Martin Upshire and C. Autry Hatcher as its members. By 1987, the lineup included Billingslea, Hinson, Darell Nunlee, Charles Davis, and Motown-era Contour Sylvester Potts. The same year, "Do You Love Me" was prominently featured in the film Dirty Dancing, which led to a revival of both the recording and the Contours touring career.
The Contours were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. The group is today a quartet led by Joe Billingslea, with fellow members Al Chisholm, Charles Davis, and Gary Grier. Former member Hubert Johnson committed suicide on July 11, 1981, and Huey Davis died February 23, 2000. Sylvester Potts died in January 2017.
Shake Sherrie
The Contours Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Shake, Sherry, woo)
Shake, Sherry, shake
Top40db: The most accurate lyrics site on the net.
(Shake, Sherry, woo)
Shake, Sherry, shake
(Shake, Sherry, shake)
I`m in love with ??
But no one love you as much as me
So dance with me before you go
And shake (shake, Sherry, shake)
Come on, Sherry, won`t you shake
(Shake, Sherry, shake)
Shake, Sherry, shake
(Shake, Sherry, shake)
Well, now dance to the East
(Hey, hey, dance to the East)
Well, now dance to the West
(Hey, hey, dance to the West)
Well, now dance to the one
(Hey, hey, dance to the one)
That you love the best
(You love the best)
Is it me (no) is it me (no)
Is it me (no) is it me (no)
Me (no) hey
Shake, Sherry, shake
(Shake, Sherry, shake)
Shake, Sherry, shake
(Shake, Sherry, shake)
Come on, Sherry, shake
Shake, Sherry, shake
(Shake, Sherry, shake)
(Shake, Sherry, shake)
Shake, Sherry
(Shake, Sherry, shake)
Shake, Sherry
(Shake, Sherry, shake)
Shake, Sherry, shake
Now listen, dance to the East
(Hey, hey, dance to the East)
Well, now dance to the West
(Hey, hey, dance to the West)
Well, now dance to the one
(Hey, hey, dance to the one)
That you love the best
(You love the best)
Is it me (no) is it me (no)
Is it me (no) is it me (no)
Me (no) me (no)
(Shake, Sherry, shake)
Shake, Sherry
(Shake, Sherry, shake)
Shake, Sherry........
(repeat til end)
The lyrics of The Contours' hit song "Shake Sherrie" are a call to the titular character to dance and shake her body to the rhythm of the music. The lead vocalist shows his love for her, proclaiming that he loves her more than anybody else does. He urges her to dance with him before leaving, and he wants her to shake her body with him. The chorus of "Shake, Sherry, shake" is repeated multiple times throughout the song, encouraging the listeners to join in on the fun.
The song's lyrics are relatively simple and straightforward, as it is primarily a dance track. It was likely one of the hundreds of fun party songs that were popularized during the 1960s, when rock and roll began to rule the music industry. The Contours were one of the many bands that gained widespread popularity during this time. Overall, this song is a classic example of the dance tracks that were popular in the 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
Shake, Sherry, shake
Encouraging Sherry to dance enthusiastically
Shake, Sherry, woo
Emphasizing the enthusiasm with which Sherry should dance
Mercy, mercy, you don't even see
Expressing sympathy for Sherry's lack of awareness of the singer's love
I'm in love with ??
Admitting the singer's love for Sherry
But no one love you as much as me
Asserting the singer's greater love for Sherry compared to others
So dance with me before you go
Urging Sherry to dance with the singer
Come on, Sherry, won't you shake
Encouraging Sherry to dance enthusiastically
Well, now dance to the East (Hey, hey, dance to the East)
Instructing Sherry to dance facing East
Well, now dance to the West (Hey, hey, dance to the West)
Instructing Sherry to dance facing West
Well, now dance to the one (Hey, hey, dance to the one)
Instructing Sherry to dance facing the one she loves the most
That you love the best (You love the best)
Confirming that Sherry should dance facing the person she loves the most
Is it me (no) is it me (no)
Questioning if the person Sherry loves the most is the singer
Is it me (no) is it me (no)
Questioning if the person Sherry loves the most is the singer
Me (no) hey
Stating that the singer is not the person Sherry loves the most
Shake, Sherry
Encouraging Sherry to dance enthusiastically
Shake, Sherry, shake
Encouraging Sherry to dance enthusiastically
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Berry Gordy, Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Fisher
They used the fade and return in this song, just as they did with their monster hit, "Do you love me".
pizzyboy8
Love this song growing up!
1bluezlovinkat
Remember hearing my sisters play this song over and over...I almost forgot all about it!
Michael Furia
James Jamerson on bass guitar!
Do tell
Is it me??? Great song 👌👏 thanks 😊 😁
JohnRinNoHo
Haven't heard this in about 55 years.
Rick Smiff
Thee guys were so wild,I remember once on the bus with the revue they had little Stevie(Wonder)smoking a joint.... Mrs.Edwards had a fit and threatened to call the office at the next stop(she did'nt) There was always something with those guys,at each stop some would find the nearest bar and others the nearest candy store,they were a blast
Phil Stall
I DON'T USELY SAY THIS BUT HUNG OUT AT WRECKERS AND THIS IS ALL THEY PLAYED THE SOUNDS OF YOUNG AMERICA
Victoria Tilghman
💋💙🌹💋💙