SYLVESTER POTTS The Contours RIP ?!?

[jsmith]

It is being reported that Sylvester Potts has passed ....
... anyone here confirm this sad fact & have more info on his death ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frCr6eq2Vfc

[marv2]

I heard from Billy Wilson. Yes it is true. Sylvester Potts died at 78. He died in a Detroit hospital yesterday.

[keith_hughes]

Here he is, singing lead on "Funny": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U_N46cKpGo

[marv2]

He had been ill for several years now with cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

[theboyfromxtown]

RIP Sylvester Potts. Thank you for the music

[marv2]

RIP Sylvester Potts. Thank you for the music

Yes indeed! He worked it and as long as he could. Rest in peace Sylvester and thank you man.

[satipe]

For the past year or so, when I would call to check on Sylvester, he was unable to speak on the phone. I do remember our last chat as he reminded me he had Alzheimer's but he remembered me and we had a long conversation [[about 45 minutes). It was wonderful and I am so honoured to have had that.

Sylvester was a wonderful man - I wish his wife and family my prayers.

[TomatoTom123]

Oh, so sad. Love The Contours. RIP Sylvester Potts, thank you for all the brilliant music

[edafan]

thank you

Sylvester



edafan

[midnightman]

RIP, Mr. Potts.

[Ngroove]

Rest In Peace, Sylvlester Potts, truly an All-Time Contour.

[rrussi]

I was saddened to hear the news of his passing. Sylvester was really a nice person and I remember talking with him and Joe Billingslea many times at the Rock & Roll Palace near Disney World where the Contours performed in the 1980s. Sylvester also did some writing and recording on Mary Wells in the early '60s, several feature the Supremes on backup vocals. Some were issued a few years back on a Mary Wells double CD called Something New: Lost & Found [[1961-1964).

[marv2]

Sylvester, along with Mickey Stevenson, Martha Reeves and Al Abrams at Motown's 50th Anniversary celebration:

12337

[marv2]

Mr. Sylvester Potts

12338

[TomatoTom123]

Ah, great photos, thanks Marv

[TomatoTom123]

http://www.soultracks.com/story-sylvester-potts-dies

[sansradio]

Sad news. RIP.

[paul_nixon]

Another loss...

[soulpassion]

I can't believe it...not really a good start to 2017 hearing this...

[woodward]

There has been no mention of his passing in the Detroit Free Press, however, the Daily News [[Detroit) published yesterday the following in a collective article of other entertainment news:

Sylvester Potts of the Contours dies

Singer Sylvester Potts of Motown group the Contours has died, reports music website Soul Tracks. Potts joined the Detroit-based R&B group in the early 1960s, replacing Benny Reeves, brother of Motown star Martha Reeves. Soon after Potts joined, the group had a hit with “Do You Love Me,” which hit the Top 40 in 1962 and again in 1988 after being featured in the film “Dirty Dancing.”

It amazes me that they must depend on Soul Tracker and not use their own staff members to report this terrible news.

[144man]

I was saddened to hear the news of his passing. Sylvester was really a nice person and I remember talking with him and Joe Billingslea many times at the Rock & Roll Palace near Disney World where the Contours performed in the 1980s. Sylvester also did some writing and recording on Mary Wells in the early '60s, several feature the Supremes on backup vocals. Some were issued a few years back on a Mary Wells double CD called Something New: Lost & Found [[1961-1964).

Sylvester Potts received composer credits on the following Motown tracks:

Boy Meets Girl
Do the See Saw
Free From Your Spell [[Mary Wells)
Funny
Give It Up [[Temptations)
Have A Little Patience [[And Wait) [[Mary Wells)
How Can I Say I'm Sorry [[Jimmy Ruffin)
I Found Someone New [[Mary Wells)
It Must Be Love
Party Groove
Trust In Me
You Hurt Me So
Your Love Grows More Precious Everyday

All the above tracks recorded by the Contours unless otherwise indicated.

[johnny_raven]

He also co-wrote this song with Jerry Butler & Council Gay ... not a Motown song, but I still love it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70W1WIOvWsw

[144man]

I have that record, but never noticed the composers. Thanks for posting video, johnny raven. I've not seen it before.

[marv2]

From EURWeb:

http://www.eurweb.com/2017/01/motowns-sylvester-potts-of-the-contours-dies/#

[kenneth]

For the past year or so, when I would call to check on Sylvester, he was unable to speak on the phone. I do remember our last chat as he reminded me he had Alzheimer's but he remembered me and we had a long conversation [[about 45 minutes). It was wonderful and I am so honoured to have had that.

Sylvester was a wonderful man - I wish his wife and family my prayers.

How lucky you were to have known him! RIP