Maurice Williams has been dazzling R&B fans and beach music lovers for five decades now. And it’s time to say thanks – at the 50th Anniversary Celebration to honor Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs on November 22 at the Charleston Music Hall, at 37 John Street in Charleston, South Carolina.

There will be performances by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs, Billy Scott & the Party Prophets, beach music & boogie icon,Clifford Curry; and gospel group Unisohn.

Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs have been performing since 1957. The group’s most successful single was undoubtedly “Stay,” reportedly penned by Maurice when he was a teenager (who was unhappy with his girlfriend’s curfew!) Released several years later (1960), it then became an instant hit. At 1:40, it must be the shortest song to ever top the charts! In later years, the Four Seasons, Hollies and Jackson Brown would all have hits with the song. (I remember being at a Jackson Brown concert, where “the Boss” himself, Bruce Springsteen, joined the band for a rockin’ rendition of “Stay.”) The song was also featured in the 1987 film, Dirty Dancing starring Patrick Swayze.

Other favorites by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs include “Little Darlin’” (1957), “Shoop Shoop” (1958) and “May I” (1966).

The Maurice Williams 50th anniversary tribute and concert are being presented by the nonprofit Beach Music & Shag Preservation Society of South Carolina. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. General tickets are $50. VIP tickets, which include a CD, photo of Maurice, meet and greet after the show, autographs and special seating are $75. For seating charts, log onto www.charlestonmusichall.com. For tickets, visit www.etix.com. The Best Western Downtown, always a supporter of beach music, is providing rooms at a special rate for this event.

Maurice is ready to rock ‘n’ roll for this one, so don’t miss this unique opportunity to see one of the R&B greats up close and personal.

By Dariel Bendin