Maurice Williams was a singer and bandleader who fronted the group Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, best known for their song “Stay,” featured in the film “Dirty Dancing.”
- Died: August 6, 2024 (Who else died on August 6?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 86.
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Maurice Williams’ legacy
South Carolina native Maurice Williams was already wowing audiences with his voice by the time he was 6, when he performed at church, and by the time he attended Barr Street High School had already formed his first group, The Royal Charms. His group’s name went through several changes before he finally settled on The Zodiacs in 1959.
He had his first hit in 1959 with “Little Darlin’,” written when he was just 16. The song hit No. 11 on Billboard’s R&B charts and went to No. 41 on the Top 100, followed by a version recorded by Canadian band The Diamonds that went to No. 2 overall.
Another song penned when Williams was just a teenager proved to be an even bigger hit. “Stay,” which went to No. 1 in 1960, sold millions of copies, and was revived in 1987 when it was featured in the film “Dirty Dancing.” It was also covered by artists such as Jackson Browne, the Hollies, and the Four Seasons.
Williams followed those songs with “May I,” a 1961 release that also became popular. Though the hits slowed down after that, Williams never stopped playing and performing in the decades to come. In 2007, he was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and in 2010 was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.
Tributes to Maurice Williams
Full obituary: The Charlotte Post
