TRANSCRIPT:
I'm Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Born in Lancaster, South Carolina, on April 26, 1940, Maurice Williams made an indelible mark on music as a singer, pianist, and composer. As a teenager, he formed a group that evolved from the Royal Charms to the Gladiolas and, finally, the Zodiacs. In 1960, Williams wrote and recorded the timeless hit Stay, the shortest song to ever reach number one on the charts at just 1 minute and 38 seconds! His earlier song, Little Darlin’, recorded with the Gladiolas, became a smash hit when covered by The Diamonds in 1957.
His unforgettable music graced classic films like "Dirty Dancing" and "American Graffiti." Though he passed away on August 6, 2024, at 86, his amazing contributions to music lives on.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.