Maurice Williams, lead singer of Maurice Williams & the Zodiac and songwriter of their 1960 hit “Stay,” died Aug. 6, according to an announcement from the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. He was 86.
Born on April 26, 1938, in Lancaster, South Carolina, Williams was a prominent figure in the American doo-wop scene in the second half of the 20th century. He began his musical journey early, forming his first group, the Royal Charms, while in high school. This group eventually became Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs.
Williams is best known for his 1960 hit “Stay,” which he originally wrote as a teenager and performed with The Zodiacs. The song became an instant classic, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. At just one minute and 36 seconds, it remains the shortest song ever to top the charts.
The song's enduring appeal has led to its inclusion in films such as “Dirty Dancing.” The Hollies and the Four Seasons covered the song early on and it has remained a favorite—best known when Jackson Browne sang it live on his 1977 album “Running On Empty.” Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and others also performed “Stay” at the 1979 No Nukes concert at Madison Square Garden.
“‘Stay’ took me about thirty minutes to write, and then I threw it away,” he later told ClassicsBands.com. “We were looking for songs to record for Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs. I was at my friend’s house listening to a mixtape I had written, when her little sister said, ‘Please sing it out loud.’ I knew she meant ‘Stay.’ She was 12, and I thought, ‘She’s old enough to buy records.’ And the rest is history. I thank God for her.”
After the song's huge success, Williams continued to tour and perform, keeping the spirit of doo-wop alive. Although he was never able to replicate the massive success of “Stay,” he remained a beloved figure in the genre.
In the mid-1960s, he settled in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in 2010, he was elected to the state's Hall of Fame. However, he returned frequently to Lancaster, where he performed at local events and mentored young musicians.
Williams is survived by his wife, Emily.
