Maurice Williams

Maurice Williams (extreme left in the photo) and The Zodiacs were, in 1960, Maurice Williams, Wiley Bennett, Henry Gaston, Charles Thomas, Willie Morrow and Albert Hill. The group, at first a doo wop group, had recorded previously under the names The Royal Charms, The Gladiolas and The Excellos. They also recorded the original version of the doo wop classic “Little Darlin'”.

Maurice Williams was born in Lancaster, South Carolina on 26 April 1938 and sang gospel as a boy in church. In the 1950s he formed a group called The Royal Charms and they recorded for Excello in Nashville. Excello suggested they rename the group as The Gladiolas and their first recording, Little Darlin’, made no 11 on the R&B chart. In 1959 the group split, reformed, and renamed as The Zodiacs. They recorded the demo of “Stay” in 1960 and took it to Herald Records in New York City, who released the record. The song was written in 1953.

Maurice Williams died on 5 August 2024. No cause was given.

“Stay” is an amateur recording which was recorded in a Quonset Hut (the American name for a Nissen hut) in 1959. It is also famous for its short playing time, and is one of the shortest hit records of the period.

“Stay”, US Herald 552, 5 September 1960. “Stay” appears on UK Sue ILP 933 “The Sue Story Volume 2”. “Stay” was also released on the Top Rank label no. JAR-526.

Chart Position: Pop No. 1, 1960. UK Pop No. 14, 1961.

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