Maurice Williams, the lead singer of Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, has passed away at 86. He was best known for his hit song “Stay,” which featured in the 1987 film ‘Dirty Dancing.’
Born in Lancaster, South Carolina, Maurice Williams formed his first group, The Royal Charms, during his teenage years. The group, later known as The Diamonds, gained fame with their 1957 hit, “Little Darlin.” In 1959, they rebranded as Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs.
In 1960, they released the doo-wop classic “Stay,” which became the shortest No. 1 song on the Billboard singles chart. The song was distributed nationally by Herald Records out of New York City.
Maurice reflected on that period, recalling that the band had recorded several local records that failed to gain traction until they brought “Stay” to New York. “Stay is my signature song,” Maurice said, noting that although he initially sang the falsetto, he recruited Shane Gaston for the recording.
The group had other hits like “May I,” “Come Along,” “Being Without You,” and “I Remember.”
Maurice was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2007 and joined the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame three years later. His career spanned over 60 years, establishing him as a pioneer in rhythm and blues.
Details regarding his cause of death have not been disclosed.
Maurice is survived by his wife, Emily, with whom he resided in Charlotte, North Carolina.
