OH, WON’T YOU STAY? — Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs got a surprise Saturday at Whitmire’s first Pearl Fest with an onstage appearance from two of The Gladiolas band members, Earl Gainey and Mike Baskin, who are childhood friends of Williams.
The two were a part of Williams’ hit “Little Darlin,” which took off in the late '50s to become a top five hit for the Diamonds. Both Maurice and The Gladiolas are from Lancaster.
Pictured at Saturday’s Pearl Fest from left to right are: Maurice Williams, Earl Gainey and Mike Baskins of The Gladiolas, and the late Frederick Mangum of The Zodiacs.
The festival, held Saturday, was sponsored by The Whitmire Jaycees and the town.
Maurice and The Zodiacs took the stage at 7 p.m. and gave a three-hour show that featured all of Williams’ self-penned songs, "May I," "Little Darlin’, and the multi-platinum seller "Stay," Williams’ signature song. "Stay" is also featured in the soundtrack to the movie Dirty Dancing.
Williams’ former childhood friends and band mates from Lancaster, Earl Gainey and Mike Baskin of The Gladiolas - formerly The Royal Charms Williams, surprised Williams and The Zodiacs Band with an unannounced onstage appearance to sing and play percussion on "Little Darlin,’"—Williams first top five song recorded in the late 1950's by The Diamonds.
"We heard of Maurice’s Whitmire appearance on the radio and decided to drive to the show and surprise him," said Gainey.
The concert also highlighted The Zodiacs’ lead harmony vocalist Frederick Mangum, who performed his Top Beach Music single "Mama Didn’t Know," a song written by Major Lance.
Along with their original songs, Maurice & The Zodiacs gave fine performances of Van Morrison, Bob Seger covers, Reggae icon Bob Marley’s "One Love", beach and doo-wop classics. They also performed "This Magic Moment," "I Can’t Help Falling In Love," "Let’s Get It On" and the dance floor finale favorite "The Electric Slide."
Williams says he is celebrating 50 years in the music business and has been in a Charlotte, N.C. studio finalizing his new disc "Little Darlin: The First 50 Years." The disc is slated for release in the next three weeks, along with an upcoming November anniversary show at the Newberry Opera House.
Pearl Fest souvenirs celebrating Williams’ appearance were visible and proudly worn by the crowd and autographed by Williams as the Whitmire Jaycees sold custom designed bright yellow with purple graphics T-shirts with the festival slogan "I Partied At The Pearl Fest With Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs."
Along with the T-shirts promoting his appearance, Williams’ received a Lifetime Honorary Membership and WGA 70th Anniversary golf cap from WGA Officer Ron Harsha. Williams also received a Proclamation for "Maurice Williams Day" from Mayor Tim Carroll and Town Council in appreciation for his appearance at the festival.
The festival, originally billed as "1st Annual Pearl Fest In The Park," was moved to Main Street, due to the recent rainy weather, and newly planted grass in the town park’s new stage area.
Main Street has been the host for the town’s long running summer festival "Party in the Pines."
"Whitmire is known as the Pearl Of The Piedmont, so we agreed that we would call the new smaller-scale festival Pearl Fest," says Sue Hollingsworth, festival co-coordinator for the Whitmire Jaycees.
Frederick Mangum 47, originally from Virginia, lead and harmony high tenor vocalist with Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs, known for his soaring, effortless falsetto vocal style passed away unexpectedly Wednesday morning in Charlotte, N.C.
Mangums' solo single on GAD Records "Mama Didn't Know" was a Top Five Radio Beach music single.
Mangum last performed in Whitmire at the Pearl Fest with Murice & The Zodiacs. He also appeared with Maurice Williams and the Whitmire Jaycees on the television morning show "Your Carolina" on WSPA-TV Channel 7 to promote their appearance at the Whitmire festival.
Mangum will be honored with a tribute in visuals and song at Maurice Williams' 50th Musical Celebration – Nov. 8 at The Newberry Opera House.
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