Williams returns to ‘Stay’ for day in Myrtle Beach
Maurice Williams knows about staying power.
Best known for writing and singing lead on “Stay,” a No. 1 pop hit in November 1960 by the Zodiacs, Williams said that after the single’s inclusion in the movie for “Dirty Dancing” in 1987, he concluded, “It was the music that made the movie.”
Sharing a soundtrack with other classic songs – as well as such new numbers as the duet “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, and Eric Carmen’s “Hungry Eyes” – “Stay,” less than two minutes in length, stepped back in time with an introduction to some new generations.
“That didn’t have to happen,” Williams said.
Look for him as the grand marshal on Saturday in the parade for Myrtle Beach’s Sun Fun Festival, reborn this year after a five-year hiatus, but picking up a tradition that spanned 50 years from 1951. The parade will start at 10 a.m., heading southward on Ocean Boulevard, between Eighth and 16th avenues North. The celebration is one of many to start a June full of festivals.
After receiving a call in the 1980s from his music publisher about “Dirty Dancing,” Williams said that at the time, he was told “probably nothing will happen, but we loved the movie,” then audiences defined its draw, watching Jennifer Grey step up her dancing prowess under the tutelage of Patrick Swayze, with a mix of catchy, memorable tunes.
“Just to make a movie dealing with all the music,” Williams said by phone last week from his home in Charlotte, “the music really took it over. This was an outstanding thing.”
He brought up an outdoor concert in or near Raleigh when the movie was in theaters, and how a 9- or 10-year-old girl asked to for a handshake because of his connection to the movie music – and her thought that he had met – Swayze in filming.
Willlams recalled, “I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll shake your hand, but I never met Patrick Swayze.”
In 2009, pancreatic cancer claimed Swayze’s life at age 57.
“That was the same thing that took my saxophone player out,” Williams said.
Counting his blessings, over and over
Williams repeated the word “blessing” when referring to “Stay” and his musical legacy from the start of the rock era. Other artists who covered “Stay” included the Hollies, Frankie Valli’s Four Seasons, Jackson Browne, and the band he remembered for “Glad All Over,” the Dave Clark Five.
“They did very well with it,” Williams said, saluting such artists.
Thinking back to the heyday of doo-wop/soul vocal groups and sharing the “same circuit” in concerts with some, Williams – who composed “Little Darlin’,” first recorded by his group the Gladiolas, then a hit in 1957 for The Diamonds quartet from Canada – said he was a fan of the Platters, Dells, Drifters, and the Contours – who also saw their smash from 1962, “Do You Love Me?” gain a rebirth, thanks to “Dirty Dancing.”
Williams, 76, said he hasn’t met Valli, 82, but joked that he thought he was ahead of him in age.
Performing in Myrtle Beach through the decades has only sweetened Williams’ mind.
“I always had good memories from down there,” he said, loving the music “radiating out of Myrtle Beach” and noting how “my buddies” – The Tams, with signature songs “What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am)?” and “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” from the mid- to later 1960s – also made a name for themselves in beach music.
Williams said among his fondest memories, Myrtle Beach claims “the top of the list ,” along with playing the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y., and Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C.
He also remembered riding in a float in 2000 for a Society of Stranders parade in North Myrtle Beach.
“That was great,” viewing the grand marshal invitation for this weekend “as an honor, too.”
Cross-country gigs for doo-wop shows still come up on Williams’ calendar occasionally.
When the curtain’s up to sing, “I’m still ready to go,” he said.
“I’ve been singing all my life, Williams said, referring to the late Ray Charles, “and I get better with age, I hope.”
Williams fit right in among stellar company. “Stay” spent a week atop the Billboard chart in November 1960, in between reigns of works by two late icons: Charles’ “Georgia On My Mind” and Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight.”
Contact STEVE PALISIN at 843-444-1764.
If you go
WHAT: Return of “Sun Fun Festival,” after five-year hiatus, continuing annual tradition from 1951-2011.
WHEN: Friday-Sunday
WHERE: Myrtle Beach’s Plyler Park, at Mr. Joe White Avenue and North Ocean Boulevard, and nearby on boardwalk and beach, with various activities 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdau and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Suundahy
SCHEDULE INCLUDES:
▪ Friday in park – Kickoff at 6:45 p.m. with crowning of Sun Fun King and Queen, in Plyler Park, with Diane DeVaughn Stokes – host of “Diane at Six,” 6-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays on WEZV-FM “Easy” 105.9 and WGTN-FM 100.7, and anchor for HTC’s “Inside Out,” a monthly hourlong cable TV show – as master of ceremonies; and The Legacy Motown Revue, 7:15-9:15 p.m.
▪ Saturday – Parade 10 a.m., southward on Ocean Boulevard between Eighth and 16th avenues North, with Lancaster native Maurice Williams – from the Zodiacs doo-wop group in the 1950s-’60s and best known for “Stay” – as grand marshal, and Stokes as emcee; and concerts in park – Legends in Concert tribute artists at 11:45 a.m., The SwashTones noon-2 p.m., The Entertainers 3:30-5:30, and The Swingin’ Medallions 7:45-10.
▪ Sunday – Concerts in park by The Castaways 2 p.m., and Too Much Sylvia 4:30 p.m.
▪ Daily in park – U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute demonstrations, 9:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, and noon Sunday.
HOW MUCH: Free
INFORMATION: 843-448-6550 or www.sunfunmb.com
‘Carolina Country Music Fest’
WHERE: On Myrtle Beach's Ocean Boulevard, between Eighth and Ninth avenues North, at the site of the former Myrtle Beach Pavilion.
WHO: With Dee Jay Silver daily –
▪ Thursday – “Kick-Off Concert,” with Gary Allan, David Ray, Kurt Stevens and Gyth Rigdon.
▪ Friday – Keith Urban, Jake Owen, Joe Nichols, Michael Ray, Outshyne, Maren Morris, Lauren Jenkins, Taylor Centers, and one other artist to be announced.
▪ Saturday – Tim McGraw, Chase Rice, Kelsey Ballerini, Chase Bryant, Lewis Brice, Morgan Myles, Kane Brown, Jordan Gray, Maddie Hunt, and the Shelby Raye Band.
▪ Sunday – Florida Georgia Line, Cole Swindell, A Thousand Horses, Davisson Brothers Band, Brett Young, Chris Lane, Ryan Hurd, Shawn Bilton, and 2Digh4.
HOW MUCH:
Advance for three-day wristband passes for June 10-12, including processing fees –
▪ $197.34 general admission.
▪ $428.42 “Main Stage VIP,” or $1,252.42 “Super VIP” – both including Thursday “Kick-Off Concert.”
For Thursday “Kick-Off Concert” –
▪ $50.68 general admission advance.
▪ Discounted tickets for Myrtle Beach residents with ID, for $19.99 (plus fees), available only at these sites downtown: The Bowery, 110 Ninth Ave. N. (843-626-3445); and ART Burger Sushi Bar, 706 N. Ocean Blvd. (843-839-4774).
INFORMATION: www.ccmf.com
Bevy of special events, mostly outside
ATHLETICS/OUTDOOR PASTIMES
▪ The Native Sons Salt Games, benefiting Surf Dreams Foundation (www.surfdreamsfoundation.org), 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at former Myrtle Beach Pavilion site and on beach, on Myrtle Beach’s Ocean Boulevard, between Eighth and Ninth avenues North. Free to see; fees to compete in some events. 843-448-0585. Full schedule at www.thesaltgames.com.
▪ 21st annual “Corvettes at the Beach” show, benefiting for local charities, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Broadway at the Beach, along 21st Avenue North and Robert Grissom Parkway in Myrtle Beach. Free to see. $25 car entry, $10 per additional vehicle. 843-294-0127 or www.myrtlebeachcorvetteclub.com.
▪ 22nd annual Open House, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at Browns Ferry Gardens daylily farm, 13515 Browns Ferry Road (S.C. 51), northwest of Georgetown and about 12 miles west from U.S. 701. 843-546-6419 or www.brownsferrygardens.com.
▪ “Pee Dee JDRF Walk 2016” – benefiting awareness of, and research on, type 1 diabetes – 10 a.m. (registration open 9 a.m.) Saturday at TicketReturn.com Field, at 21st Avenue North and Grissom Parkway. 843-798-3745 or www2.jdrf.org/site/TR/TeamJDRF/PalmettoChapter4596?pg=entry&fr_id=6168.
▪ Benefiting Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach: Third annual Dick’s Last Resort’s “Paddle for the Pets Build Your Own Boat Race & Festival,” noon-4 p.m. Saturday – with “Furry Fashion Show” with adoptable pets at 1 p.m., and race at 3 p.m. on Intracoastal Waterway – at Barefoot Landing, on U.S. 17 in North Myrtle Beach. 843-272- 7794 or www.dickslastresort.com/citypage.cfm?store=MyrtleBeach, Also, “Whiskers, Wag & Wine” food and wine tasting, 5:30-9 p.m. June 8 at The Brentwood Restaurant & Wine Bistro, 4269 Luck Ave., Little River, for $55 advance or $60 at door. 843-249-4948 or www.humanesocietynmb.org.
▪ “ColorBurst 5K” paint run, benefiting Tidelands Health Foundation, 2 p.m. Sunday at TicketReturn.com Field, at 21st Avenue North and Grissom Parkway. $35 or $35 by FridayJune 3, otherwise $40 or $50 – including ticket for Myrtle Beach Pelicans game at 6:05 p.m. that day against Potomac (Va.) Nationals. colorburst5k.com.
▪ St. Andrew Catholic School Crusader Classic 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run, 7 and 8 a.m. respectively on June 11, starting and ending at Myrtle Beach’s Grand Park, by The Market Common. $25 and $10 each. 843-448-6062 or standrewschoolmb.com/5k-and-fun-run/.
▪ Fifth annual “Family Day and Paddle Fest,” June 25 at Union Station, 333 Henry Road (S.C. 41) Hemingway and benefiting Tara Hall Home for Boys, based in Rose Hall section of Georgetown County, a long-term, residential home and school that accepts neglected, troubled, and abused boys – with paddle launch registration 7-10 a.m., for $40 ages 17 and older, $25 ages 8-16, and free ages 7 and younger (with adult on vessel), including gate fee, trip and meal, and kayak/canoe rentals available for $10. Festival, for people not paddling, gate open 8 a.m., for $10 ages 17 and older, and $5 ages 8-16, including meal, also with children’s barrel race for ages 8-12 at 1 p.m. 843-546-3000, 843-546-3666 or www.tarahall.org.
ARTS ORIENTED
▪ “Ag + Art Tour of Horry County” – kickoff party, 5:30 p.m. Friday at Peanut Warehouse in downtown Conway, for $8 advance or $10 at door, with Morris Brothers Bluegrass Band; and free, self-guided tours 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday of local farms and artisans. Visit www.agandarttour.com/horry to scan choice of sites in Conway-Loris-Burgess area, to tour in any order: Bluefield Blueberry Farm, Conway Farmers Market, Freewoods Farm, L.W. Paul Living History Farm and Traviana Farm, as well as Horry County Museum, Conway Glass, and Consign for Equine – and sign in at first stop. Also: 843-248-3558.
▪ “Ag and Art Days on the Farm,” 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30-5 p.m. Sunday at Freewoods Farm, off Bay Road from S.C. 707 in Burgess community, including tours 10 a.m. Saturday and 2 p.m Sunday, classes on value and cooking of vegetables 11:15 a.m. Saturday, and music and artists at work 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. 843-650-2064, 843-650-9139 or www.freewoodsfarm.com.
▪ At Brookgreen Gardens, on U.S. 17, between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach, open 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily and where “Nature Connects: Legos Bricks Sculpture” exhibit continues through Sept. 5: “Art Festival,” with more than 65 artists, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; “Gullah Programs,” 1 p.m. Wednesdays with Ron Daise, Brookgreen’s vice president for creative education; and “Cool Summer Evenings,” June 8-Aug. 5, with gardens open until 9 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, and concerts at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, with this schedule – Matt Parker and the Deacons on June 8, Mystic Vibration June 10, Sea Cruz June 15, Javier Jazz Project June 17 and July 8, PaperWork June 22 and July 27, Stirling Bridge June 24, The Stilettos June 29, Locust Honey July 1, U “N” I July 6, “High Steppin’ Country” July 13, Common Ground July 15, Prettier Than Matt July 20, Mike Frost July 22, Shem Creek Boogie Band July 29, Tru Sol Aug. 3, and Ross Holmes Aug. 5. Free with admission, which lasts lasts seven days: $16 ages 13-64, $14 ages 65 and older, $8 ages 4-12, and free ages 3 and younger. 843-235-6000, 800-849-1931 or www.brookgreen.org.
▪ 44th annual “Art in the Park,” by Waccamaw Arts and Crafts Guild, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 11-12 at Myrtle Beach’s Chapin Park, 1400 N. Kings Highway. Free. 843-446-3830 or www.artsyparksy.com.
HISTORY
▪ At Hobcaw Barony, on U.S. 17, just north of Georgetown. Special events: “Friendfield Village” tour, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday and July 2, $20; “Hike Hobcaw: Hobcaw Beach,” 9:30 a.m.-noon June 10, $25; “Snake Birthday Party,” 2:30-4 p.m. June 15, $5 child; “Native American Heritage,” 2:30-4 p.m. June 24, $5. Reservations required at 843-546-4623. www.hobcawbarony.org. Also, from North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, on premises: “Where Does It Go?” field trip to Georgetown County landfill and a recycling center, 1:30-4 p.m. June 7, for free, but room for only 12 guests, and :Coast Cool School: Energy Exchange,” 10 a.m.-noon June 11, for $5. Register at 843-904- 9017 – www.northinlet.sc.edu.
▪ At Old Bridge Museum, 109 Shoreline Drive W., Sunset Beach, N.C., open 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays, with variety of weekly programs June 28-Aug. 11: “Life Along The Coast” on Tuesday evenings; “Young Explorers,” for ages 5-13, 10:30 a.m.-noon Wednesdays; and “Family Fun Night,” 6 p.m. Thursdays. Also, in “Project PBJ,” jars of donated peanut butter and jelly collected through June, for relay to Brunswick Family Assistance and Seaside United Methodist Church food pantries to distribute to families with children. 910-363-6585 or oldbridgepreservationsociety.org.
FOOD/MUSIC/VARIETY
▪ At La Belle Amie Vineyard, 1120 St. Joseph Road, Little River, just west of North Myrtle Beach Middle School: “American Pie Oldies Music Fest,” noon-5 p.m. Saturday, with music by Marsha Morgan Band, and The English Channel, for $8; and “Summer’s First Saturday Cookout” June 18, for $3. Also, bring two canned/dry good items for food bank, for $3 off admission. 843-399-9463 or labelleamie.com.
▪ Annual “Hot Summer Nights,” mostly starting next week, by Oceanfront Merchants Association, at Myrtle Beach boardwalk, and in city’s Plyler Park, at Mr. Joe White Avenue and North Ocean Boulevard: Fireworks off Second Avenue (North) Pier, 10 p.m. Saturday, and Wednesdays (but not July 1 or 6) through Aug. 17, and on July 4; Kids Carnival, 6-9 p.m. Mondays through Aug. 15 in park; “Boardwalk Elvis” concerts by David Chaney, 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays in park; band concerts 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at Ninth Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard, and 7-10 p.m. Fridays in Plyler Park; and “Sunday Celebrations” concerts, by Ground Zero teen ministry ( 843-945-9440 or www.mygroundzero.com), 7 p.m. Sundays in Plyler Park, with Among The Thirsty on June 26, Manafest July 3, J.J. Weeks Band July 10, Abandon July 17, 7eventh Time Down July 24, and Remedy Drive July 31. Free. 843-779-2662 or www.myrtlebeachdowntown.com.
▪ “Rivertown Wine-Around” sampling, 2-5 p.m. June 11 across downtown Conway. $20 advance or $25 at event. 843-248-6260 or conwayalive.com.
▪ ▪ “Festa Italiana,” by Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America, Myrtle Beach Lodge 2662, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. June 25 and noon-7 p.m. June 26 at Myrtle Beach’s Grand Park on Farrow Parkway, across from The Market Common. $1. 848-333-7059 or or www.sonsofitalymb.com.
▪ “Conway Riverfest,” 11 a.m.-10 p.m. June 25 – including fireworks at 9:30 p.m. – Conway’s Riverfront Park, at end of Elm Street, and on Marina Drive. Free for Marina Drive activities, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; and $5 ages 13 and older, otherwise free, for Riverfront Park area, 3-10 p.m., with hand stamps available for re-entry. 843-248-2273 or www.conwayriverfest.com.
▪ Annual “SummerFest!” through Sept. 3 at Barefoot Landing, on U.S. 17 in North Myrtle Beach, with “Lakeside Evenings” entertainment 7 p.m. daily in courtyard near Castano’s Italian Restaurant, with Nick Pike, British juggler, comedian, unicyclist, and former semi-finalist from NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” on Mondays (also with weekly fireworks at 10:15 p.m.); variety of music groups Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays; DJ dance party Thursdays; Mr. Nigels with singalongs Fridays; and Symphony Trio Sundays. 843-272-8349 or www.bflanding.com.
▪ Annual “Summer Nights,” through Sept. 4, at Broadway at the Beach, bordered by U.S. 17 Bypass, Robert M. Grissom Parkway and 21st and 29th avenues North in Myrtle Beach, including Bryan Dangerous’ interactive comedy show, 7 and 8 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays; Shelley Sasser, from Dino Capone’s School of Rock, near Forestbrook community, 7-10 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays; Nick Pike, 7 and 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; Sparkles “Pop the Runway” Fashion Show 5 p.m. Thursdays; and fireworks, 10 p.m. Tuesdays through August, adding Fridays, June 17-Aug. 12, and on July 4 and Sept. 4. 843-444-3200, 800-386-4662 or www.broadwayatthebeach.com.
This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Williams returns to ‘Stay’ for day in Myrtle Beach."