Maurice Williams, the lead singer of Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs and songwriter of their 1960 hit “Stay,” died on August 6, according to a statement from the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. He was 86 years old.

Born on April 26, 1938 in Lancaster, South Carolina, Williams was a prominent figure in the American doo-wop scene of the second half of the 20th century. His musical career began early when he formed his first group, the Royal Charms, during high school. This group later became Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs.

Williams is best known for the 1960 hit “Stay,” which he originally wrote as a teenager and sang with The Zodiacs. The song 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 appeal led to its inclusion in films such as Dirty Dancing. The Hollies and The Four Seasons covered the song early on, and it remained a favorite – best known when Jackson Browne sang it live for his 1977 album Running On Empty. “Stay” was also sung 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’ and then I threw it away,” he later told ClassicsBands.com. “We were looking for songs to record as Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs. I was at my girlfriend’s house playing the tape of the songs I’d written when her little sister said, ‘Please use the song with the high voice on it.’ I knew she meant ‘Stay.’ She was about 12 years old and I said to myself, ‘She’s the age where you buy records,’ and the rest is history. I thank God for her.”

After the song’s huge success, Williams continued to tour and perform, keeping the spirit of doo wop alive. Although he never matched the huge success of “Stay,” he remained a popular figure in the genre.

He settled in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the mid-1960s and was inducted into the state’s Hall of Fame in 2010, but he often returned to Lancaster, where he performed at local events and mentored young musicians.

Williams leaves behind his wife Emily.