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Maurice Williams, Writer and Lead Singer of ‘Stay,’ Dies at 86

Maurice Williams, an R&B singer who with the Zodiacs became one of music’s great one-shot acts with “Stay,” has died. He was 86.

Maurice Williams, a rhythm and blues singer and composer who with his backing group the Zodiacs became one of music’s great one-shot acts with the classic ballad “Stay,” has died. “Stay” also was performed by Browne, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty and others at the 1979 No Nukes concert at Madison Square Garden and appeared in its original version on the blockbuster Dirty Dancing soundtrack from 1987. In 1965, Williams and the Zodiacs cut a promising ballad, “May I.” But their label, Vee-Jay, went bankrupt just as the song was coming out and “May I” was later a hit for another white group, Bill Deal & the Rhondels.

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