Maurice Williams

American singer and songwriter.

Born April 26, 1938 in Lancaster, South Carolina, USA.

Died August 5, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

Williams wrote such songs as "Little Darlin'", "Stay", and "May I".

Williams discovered his passion for music at a young age, leading to the formation of his first group, the Royal Charms, during his teenage years. This group would later evolve into Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, marking the beginning of a storied career. Williams wrote the song “Little Darlin,” which became a hit for The Diamonds, but was only the beginning of Williams’ impact on the charts.

In 1960, Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs released the single “Stay,” a doo-wop classic that captivated audiences with its catchy melody and concise, under-two-minute runtime. “Stay” soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming one of the shortest songs ever to achieve such a feat. Its enduring appeal saw it covered by numerous artists, including the Four Seasons and Jackson Browne, giving it new life in several decades.