Rite Records custom pressings Cincinnati, Ohio, 1955-1985
The group would undergo yet another name change. “When the contract was up with Ernie, we decided to go more national, because he only distributed in the southeast. We were in West Virginia getting our car fixed, because the station wagon had broken down and we were in this dealership and there was this car called the Zodiac. My bass player Robert Gore saw the car and suggested we think of the name Zodiacs and we liked it, because it was completely different. It was a European car (U.K – Ford). Then our manager said, ‘We will call you Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs and then you do not have to worry about your name anymore. Interview with Maurice Williams
In 1960, Herald released « Stay », and audiences loved hearing about Williams’s efforts to persuade his girlfriend to remain past her curfew as he assures her that her parents won’t mind if she stays for just on more dance. By November, the record had reached #1, and at one minute and thirty-seven seconds the record is well known for being at the shortest #1 record in the history of the Billboard charts. Today it’s estimated that the record has sold more than ten millions copies. Carolina Beach Music: The Classic Years by Rick Simmons, book.
The Brotherhood Singers From Columbia S.C.
Six Voices of Zion The Six Voices of Zion was organized in 1958 by Jimmy Augusta, and in 1959 Andrew Evans joined the group as manager, and he continues to manage the rich and widely ranging voices today.
The Six Voices of Zion of Columbia, SC started their recording career in 1967 with a 45 that was released on both Pitch and Gusman. In the early seventies they recorded one 45 for HSE, before returning to Pitch/Gusman in 1973. They recorded another four 45s for Pitch, and two albums. One album was released on Gusman, the other one on Pitch.
The Flying Souls