*If you’re an aficionado of “old-school” music, we have sad news for you. Maurice Williams, the rhythm and blues singer and composer behind the timeless classic “Stay,” has died at the age of 86. The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame announced his passing on August 6, though further details were not immediately provided.
Williams embarked on his musical journey early, performing and writing from childhood. His career saw various phases, including his time with several harmony groups. It was with his backing group, the Zodiacs, that he cemented his place in music history during a 1960 studio session. There, they recorded “Stay,” a song Williams had hurriedly composed as a teenager.
Featuring the memorable falsetto plea, “OH, WON’T YOU STAY, JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER!,” delivered by Shane Gaston, “Stay” became an instant hit. Though it was just over a minute and a half long, it soared to No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart in 1960, making Williams and the Zodiacs one of music’s most memorable one-hit wonders. The song’s enduring appeal was solidified through covers by artists such as the Hollies and the Four Seasons, and notable performances by Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Petty. Its legacy continued with a prominent placement in the 1987 blockbuster film “Dirty Dancing.”
Inspired by a fleeting teenage crush on Mary Shropshire, “Stay” encapsulated Williams’s heartfelt plea for more time with her. Despite subsequent disappointments in his career, such as the loss of potential hits to other groups due to industry circumstances, “Stay” remained an iconic track, the LA Times reports via NSN News.
Williams’s contributions to music extended beyond this single hit. He recorded another falsetto showcase, “Little Darlin,” with the Gladiolas, only to see it popularized by the Diamonds. History repeated itself when “May I,” a ballad cut with the Zodiacs in 1965, found success with Bill Deal & the Rhondels after Williams’s label, Vee-Jay, went bankrupt.
Nevertheless, Williams became a beloved figure on oldies tours and continued to produce albums like “Let This Night Last” and “Back to Basics.” His legacy was further cemented in 2010 when he was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.
Born in Lancaster, South Carolina, Maurice Williams’s early musical experiences were rooted in his family and church. He formed his first gospel group, the Junior Harmonizers, during his teenage years. As they transitioned to secular music, they became the Royal Charms and eventually the Zodiacs, named after a Ford car they used on tour. Williams’s prolific songwriting often happened spontaneously, as was the case with “Stay,” a song he originally discarded.
In a 2012 interview with Our State magazine, Williams revealed that the idea for “Stay” was resurrected thanks to the keen ear of a young listener—his girlfriend’s 12-year-old sister. “She was the age of record buying,” Williams remarked, “and the rest is history. I thank God for her.”
Maurice Williams is survived by his wife, Emily. His voice may have been silenced, but the timeless quality of “Stay” ensures that his musical legacy will endure, inviting audiences to linger a little longer with his unforgettable melodies.
Maurice Williams’s passing marks the end of an era for many who cherished the golden age of R&B and doo-wop. His influence may have been encapsulated in one monumental hit, but his story and music have touched countless lives, reminding us all to “Stay” in the moment a little longer.
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