R&B Legend Maurice Williams, Voice Behind "Stay," Dies at 86

Maurice Williams, the R&B singer and composer renowned for the iconic hit "Stay," passed away on August 6, 2024, at the age of 86. The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, which inducted Williams in 2010, announced his death without providing further details.

Williams' career was defined by the enduring success of "Stay," a song he wrote as a teenager. Recorded with his group, the Zodiacs, in 1960, "Stay" became one of the shortest No. 1 hits in Billboard Hot 100 history, clocking in at just 1:36. The song's distinctive falsetto part, performed by Henry Gaston, became one of rock's most memorable vocal moments.

Despite its brevity, "Stay" left an indelible mark on music history. It has been covered by over 100 artists, including the Hollies, the Four Seasons, and Jackson Browne. The song's popularity endured, featuring in films like "Dirty Dancing" and being performed at the 1979 "No Nukes" concert by Browne, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Petty.

Born on April 26, 1938, in Lancaster, South Carolina, Williams began his musical journey singing in church. As a teenager, he formed the Junior Harmonizers, which evolved into the Royal Charms and later the Zodiacs, named after the Ford Zodiac car they used for touring.

Williams faced challenges beyond "Stay." His song "Little Darlin'," recorded with the Gladiolas in the late 1950s, became a hit for the Diamonds instead. Similarly, "May I," recorded with the Zodiacs in 1965, missed its chance when their label, Vee-Jay Records, went bankrupt.

Despite these setbacks, Williams continued to perform and record. He settled in Charlotte in the mid-1960s and became a fixture in the beach music scene, a genre popular in the Carolinas. Williams released albums like "Let This Night Last" and "Back to Basics," and continued performing well into his 70s.

"It took me about thirty minutes to write 'Stay,' then I threw it away. We were looking for songs to record as Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs. I was over at my girlfriend's house playing the tape of songs I had written, when her little sister said, 'Please do the song with the high voice in it.' I knew she meant 'Stay.' She was about 12 years old and I said to myself, 'She's the age of record buying,' and the rest is history. I thank God for her."

Williams' contribution to music extended beyond "Stay." He was a key figure in the development of the "Carolina beach music" genre and was inducted into both the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and the South Carolina Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Maurice Williams' legacy in R&B and rock music remains significant, with "Stay" continuing to captivate listeners more than six decades after its release. His story serves as a testament to the enduring power of a well-crafted song and its ability to transcend time and genre.