Maurice Williams , the lead singer of Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs and the songwriter behind their 1960 hit “Stay,” died Aug. 6, according to an announcement from the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. He was 86.

Born on April 26, 1938, in Lancaster, South Carolina, Williams was a significant figure in the American doo-wop music scene of the late 20th century. He started his musical career at a young age, forming his first band, the Royal Charms, while still in high school. This group would eventually evolve into Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs.

Williams is best known for the 1960 hit song “Stay,” which he originally wrote as a teenager and performed with The Zodiacs. The track became an instant classic, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. At just 1 minute and 36 seconds, it remains the shortest song ever to top the charts.

The song's enduring popularity led to its appearance in films like “Dirty Dancing.” The Hollies and the Four Seasons covered the song early on, and it became a beloved favorite – most notably when Jackson Browne included it in his 1977 live album, “Running On Empty.” “Stay” was also performed by Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and others at the 1979 No Nukes concert at Madison Square Garden.

“It took me about thirty minutes to write ‘Stay,’ then I discarded it,” he later told ClassicsBands.com. “We were seeking songs to record as Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs. I was at my girlfriend's house playing the tape of songs I had written, and her younger sister said, ‘Please play the song with the high voice in it.’ I understood she meant ‘Stay.’ She was about 12 years old, and I thought to myself, ‘She's the age of record buying,’ and the rest, as they say, is history. I thank God for her.”

After the song's phenomenal success, Williams continued to tour and perform, preserving the spirit of doo-wop. While he never again achieved the immense success of “Stay,” he remained a revered figure in the genre.

In the mid-1960s, he established himself in Charlotte, N.C., and in 2010, he was inducted into the state's Hall of Fame. However, he frequently returned to Lancaster, where he performed at local events and mentored young musicians.

Williams is survived by his wife, Emily.