Above: Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs in 1960, with Maurice seated in the middle of the front row
BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
Description: Vocalist, USA
Known For: The composer of the song “Stay” – Oh Wont You
Instruments: Voice
Music Styles: Rock , Easy listening
Location: United States of America
Date Born: 26th April 1938
Location Born: Lancaster, United States of America
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BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE
Maurice Williams
An American member of fifties vocal group The Zodiacs.
Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs were an American doo-wop/R&B vocal group in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Originally the (Royal) Charms, the band changed its name to the Gladiolas in 1957 and the Excellos in 1958, before finally settling on the Zodiacs in 1959.
Maurice Williams was born 26 April 1938 in Lancaster, South Carolina. His first experience with music was in the church, where his mother and sister both performed. By the time he was six, Williams was performing regularly there. With his childhood friend Earl Gainey, Williams formed the gospel group the Junior Harmonizers. As rock and roll and doo-wop became their primary interest, the Junior Harmonizers changed their name to the Royal Charms.
Originally The Royal Charms, the band changed its name to “The Gladiolas” in 1957 and “The Excellos” in 1958, before finally settling on “The Zodiacs” in 1959.
He became interested in rock and roll and doo-wop became his primary interest, and The Junior Harmonizers changed their name to The Royal Charms. Maurice has two sisters, Hot Jenny and Cathy.
The song “Little Darlin'” was a #11 hit on the R&B charts in 1957, but did not break the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 40. However, when the song was covered by the all-white Canadian group The Diamonds, it moved up to #2.
This was the case so many times with cover versions of the black recordings when mostly the originaals were of better quality.
The group recorded “Stay,” a song that Maurice Williams had written a couple of weeks before.
After taking the demo of “Stay” to Al Silver at Herald Records in New York City, the song was pressed and released in early 1960. “Stay” is the shortest recording ever to reach number one on the charts in the United States.
Later versions of “Stay” by The Four Seasons (1964) and Jackson Browne (1978).
Maurice Williams continued recording and releasing music through to the 1990s.
Williams continued recording, touring, and releasing music through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. He is still active in the music industry, residing in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010. He also made several performances for the PBS “Doo Wop 50” show series in 2001.