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Ben E. King
King in 1962
Background information
Birth name	Benjamin Earl Nelson
Born	(1938-09-28)September 28, 1938 Henderson, North Carolina, US
Origin	Harlem, New York, US
Died	April 30, 2015(2015-04-30) (aged 76) Hackensack, New Jersey, US
Genres	Soul R&B doo-wop
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Vocals piano
Years active	1958–2015
Labels	Atco Records Atlantic Records Ichiban Records
Formerly of	The Drifters
Website	beneking.info'

Benjamin Earl King (né Nelson; September 28, 1938 – April 30, 2015) was an American soul and R&B singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence as one of the principal lead singers of the R&B vocal group the Drifters, notably singing the lead vocals on three of their biggest hit singles "There Goes My Baby", "This Magic Moment", and "Save the Last Dance for Me" (their only US No. 1 hit).

As a soloist, King is best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", which became a US Top 10 hit, both in 1961 and later in 1986 (when it was used as the theme to the film of the same name), and a number one hit in the United Kingdom in 1987. The single was also placed on the RIAA's list of Songs of the Century. His 1975 single "Supernatural Thing" became a top five hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, King was the original recording artist of songs such as "Spanish Harlem", "I (Who Have Nothing)", "So Much Love", "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", "We're Gonna Groove", and "Till I Can't Take It Anymore" all of which have been covered by multiple artists to varying degrees of success.

King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, as a member of the Drifters, and has been nominated as a solo artist. Along with the Drifter's "There Goes My Baby", King's songs "Stand by Me" and "Spanish Harlem" also appeared on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Additionally, he was inducted alongside the Drifters into Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000, as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012 with the Towering song award.

Early life

Benjamin Earl Nelson was born on September 28, 1938, in Henderson, North Carolina, but moved to Harlem, New York, at the age of nine in 1947. He began singing in church choirs, and in high school formed the Four B's, a doo-wop group that occasionally performed at the Apollo Theater.

Career

The Drifters

In 1958, King (still using his birth name) joined a doo-wop group called the Five Crowns. Later that year, the Drifters' manager George Treadwell fired the members of the original Drifters, and replaced them with the members of the Five Crowns.

King had a string of R&B hits with the group on Atlantic Records. He co-wrote and sang lead on the first Atlantic hit by the new version of the Drifters, "There Goes My Baby" (1959). King sang lead on a succession of hits by the team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, including "Save the Last Dance for Me", "This Magic Moment", and "I Count the Tears". He recorded only 13 songs with the Drifters—two backing other lead singers and 11 lead vocal performances—including an unreleased song called "Temptation" (later redone by Drifters vocalist Johnny Moore). The last of the King-led Drifters singles to be released was "Sometimes I Wonder", which was recorded on May 19, 1960, but not issued until June 1962.

After a year of touring with the Drifters, contract disputes arose with Treadwell, in which King and his manager Lover Patterson demanded greater compensation. Treadwell refused, and King was only hired for studio recordings. On television, fellow Drifters member Charlie Thomas usually lip-synched the songs that King had recorded with the Drifters.

Solo career

In May 1960, King left the Drifters, assuming the stage name Ben E. King in preparation for a solo career. Remaining with Atlantic Records on its Atco imprint, His first release, "Show Me The Way"/"Brace Yourself" failed to hit the charts. His second effort with Lavern Baker wasn't a hit either, "A Help-Each-Other"/"How Often". King’s first charted single was 'First taste of love'. It peaked on the US Billboard at #53, but it became a bigger hit in the UK, charting at #27. His first Top 10 release as a solo artist was "Spanish Harlem" (1961). It peaked on the US pop charts at number 10, and on Billboard's rhythm and blues charts at number 15 . It was written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

King's next single, "Stand by Me", written with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, ultimately would be voted as one of the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America. King cited singers Brook Benton, Roy Hamilton, and Sam Cooke as influences for his vocals of the song. "Stand by Me", "There Goes My Baby", "Spanish Harlem", and "Save the Last Dance for Me" were all named in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll; and each of those records has earned a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. King's other well-known songs include "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", "Amor", "Seven Letters", "How Can I Forget", "On the Horizon", "Young Boy Blues", "First Taste of Love", "Here Comes the Night", "Ecstasy", and "That's When It Hurts". In the summer of 1963, King had a Top 30 hit with "I (Who Have Nothing)", which reached the Top 10 on New York's radio station, WMCA.

King's records continued to place well on the Billboard Hot 100 chart until the mid-1960s. British pop bands began to dominate the pop music scene, but King still continued to make R&B hits. Some of these hits include "What is Soul?", "Tears, Tears, Tears", and "Till I Can't Take It Anymore". In 1975, King made a comeback on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with the disco hit "Supernatural Thing": number 5 on Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. It was also nominated for a Grammy at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards in 1975 for "best R&B vocal performance, male". In 1977, King collaborated with Average White Band in releasing the album Benny & Us. The album spawned two top 40 R&B hits, "A Star in the Ghetto" and "Get It Up".

King returned to the Drifters in late 1982 in the United Kingdom and sang with them until the group's break-up and reorganization in 1986. From 1983 until the band's break-up, the other members of this incarnation of the Drifters were Johnny Moore, Joe Blunt, and Clyde Brown.

A 1986 re-issue of "Stand by Me" followed the song's use as the theme song to the movie Stand By Me and re-entered the Billboard top ten after a 25-year absence. This reissue also topped the charts in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland for three weeks in February 1987. The reissue also made King the first act to reach the Hot 100's top 10 in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, either as a member of an act that reached that high (in this case, the Drifters) or as a solo act that did.

In 1990, King and Bo Diddley, along with Doug Lazy, recorded a revamped hip hop version of the Monotones' 1958 hit song "Book of Love" for the soundtrack of the movie Book of Love. He also recorded a children's album, I Have Songs In My Pocket, written and produced by children's music artist Bobby Susser in 1998, which won the Early Childhood News Directors' Choice Award and Dr. Toy's/the Institute for Childhood Resources Award. King performed "Stand by Me" on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2007. Ahmet Ertegun said, "King is one of the greatest singers in the history of rock and roll and rhythm and blues."

As a Drifter and as a solo artist, King has achieved a few number-one hits: "There Goes My Baby", "Save the Last Dance for Me", "Stand By Me", "Supernatural Thing", and the 1986 re-issue of "Stand By Me". On the US pop and r&b charts combined, he achieved 12 Top 10 hits and 28 Top 40 hits. King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a Drifter; he was also nominated as a solo artist.

A re-recording of King's "I (Who Have Nothing)" was selected for the Sopranos Peppers and Eggs Soundtrack CD (2001).

King was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

On March 27, 2012, the Songwriters Hall of Fame announced that "Stand By Me" would receive its 2012 Towering Song Award and that King would be honored with the 2012 Towering Performance Award for his recording of the song.

Later life

King was active in his charitable foundation, the Stand By Me Foundation, which helps to provide education to deserving youths. King was a resident of Teaneck, New Jersey, from the late 1960s onwards.

King performed "Stand By Me" during a televised tribute to late comedian George Carlin, as he was one of Carlin's favorite artists. On November 11, 2010, King performed "Stand By Me" at the Latin Grammys with Prince Royce.

King toured the United Kingdom in 2013 and played concerts in the United States as late as 2014, despite reported health problems.

Following a brief illness, King died at Hackensack University Medical Center on April 30, 2015, at the age of 76. He was married to his wife, Betty, for 50 years, and had three children: Terris Cannon, Benjamin King Jr., and Angela Matos, in addition to six grandchildren.

Legacy

King has been covered by acts from several genres. "So Much Love" was recorded by Dusty Springfield and many others. "I (Who Have Nothing)" was performed by Shirley Bassey in 1963 and also by Tom Jones in 1970, as well as a 1979 recording by Sylvester. "Till I Can't Take It Anymore" was revisited by peer Ray Charles in 1970 and "Spanish Harlem" was sung by Aretha Franklin in 1971. "Stand by Me" was covered by the Righteous Brothers, Otis Redding, John Lennon, Mickey Gilley, Seal, Florence and the Machine, and Tracy Chapman. The song forms the basis for the Indian hit "Dildaara" by songwriters Vishal–Shekhar. King also inspired a number of rock bands: Siouxsie and the Banshees recorded "Supernatural Thing" in 1981 and Led Zeppelin did a cover version of "Groovin'", which is better known under the title of "We're Gonna Groove".

Discography

Studio albums

Live album

Compilation albums

Singles

As lead of The Drifters

As a solo artist

References

1. "King, Ben E." Veromi. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
2. ^ Strong, Martin C. (1998). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 531–532. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
3. "The Drifters | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". www.rockhall.com. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
4. "500 Songs That Shaped Rock".
5. "Ben E. King and The Drifters – The Vocal Group Hall of Fame". Retrieved December 30, 2022.
6. "Ben E. King | Songwriters Hall of Fame". www.songhall.org. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
7. "'Stand By Me' singer Ben E. King dies at age 76". PIX11 News. May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
8. ^ Grimes, William (May 1, 2015). "Ben E. King, Soulful Singer, Dies at 76; 'Stand by Me' Was One of His Hits". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
9. Jones, Soul (June 1, 2011). "Soul Jones Words: Play It Again, Ben - Ben E. King Interview". Souljoneswords.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
10. Goldberg, Marv. "Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks: The Later Drifters". Retrieved October 24, 2013.
11. Fontenot, Robert. "The Life and Times of Ben E. King". About.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
12. ^ "Ben E King: R&B legend dies at 76". BBC News. May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
13. "Experience The Music: One Hit Wonders and the Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
14. "Ben E. King, 'Stand By Me' Singer and Member of the Drifters, Dies at 76". Variety. May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
15. Farber, Jim (May 1, 2015). "Ben E. King, soul legend who sang 'Stand By Me,' dead at 76". The New York Daily News. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
16. "BEN E. KING (1938-2015)". blackpast.org. November 25, 2018.
17. Casey Kasem, "American Top 40", January 17, 1987.
18. "Ben E. King". Beneking.info. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
19. "The Drifters Biography". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
20. "Ben E. King, soul legend and singer of 'Stand By Me', dead at 76". Associated Press. May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
21. "The Sopranos: Peppers & Eggs (Music From the HBO Original Series)". AllMusic. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
22. "2009 Inductees". North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
23. "Stand By Me Named Towering Song, Ben E. King Towering Performance, Lance Freed Abe Olman Publisher". SongHall. March 27, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
24. "The Ben E. King Stand By Me Foundation". Benekingstandbyme.org. August 11, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
25. Beckerman, Jim. "Ben E. King can't stop the music", The Record (Bergen County), May 10, 2008. Accessed March 1, 2009.
26. Wloszczyna, Suan (November 11, 2008). "Comics toast Carlin at Mark Twain ceremony". USA Today. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
27. Strang, Fay (May 1, 2015). "Ben E King dead: Stand By Me singer dies aged 76". Mirror. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
28. ^ Furness, Hannah (May 1, 2015). "Stand By Me singer Ben E King dies at 76". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
29. "R&B legend Ben E King dies at 76". BBC. May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
30. Grimes, William (May 1, 2015). "Ben E. King, Soulful Singer of 'Stand by Me,' Dies at 76". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
31. Fernandez, Maritza (November 25, 2018). "BEN E. KING (1938-2015)". BlackPast.org. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
32. Bret, David (2014). Brit Girls of the Sixties: Kathy Kirby + Dusty Springfield + Cilla Black + Helen Shapiro + Marianne Faithfull + Sandie Shaw + Lulu. Lulu Press.
33. Lewis, Dave (2012). From A Whisper to A Scream: The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin. Music Sales Group.
34. ^ "Ben E. King Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
35. "Benny And Us charting: Billboard 200 Week of September 10, 1977". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
36. ^ "Ben E. King Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
37. ^ "Ben E. King". Official Charts. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
38. ^ "Discographie Von Ben E. King". Offizielle Deutsche Charts (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
39. ^ "Discographie Ben E. King". Swiss Hitparade (in German). Retrieved July 27, 2021.
40. Billboard Hot 100 positions for the Drifters' singles:
    • "There Goes My Baby": "Billboard Hot 100 Week of August 17, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
    • "Dance with me": "Billboard Hot 100 Week of November 30, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
    • "This Magic Moment": "Billboard Hot 100 Week of March 28, 1960". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
    • "Lonely Winds": "Billboard Hot 100 Week of July 4, 1960". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
    • "Save the Last Dance for Me": "Billboard Hot 100 Week of November 7, 1960". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
    • "I Count the Tears": "Billboard Hot 100 Week of February 6, 1961". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
41. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs positions for the Drifters' singles:
    • "There Goes My Baby": "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Week of July 27, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
    • "Dance with Me": "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Week of November 23, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
    • "Save the Last Dance for Me": "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Week of October 31, 1960". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
42. ^ "The Drifters - Save The Last Dance For Me". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Retrieved July 28, 2021.
43. "Drifters". Official Charts. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
44. "Ben E. King Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
45. "Discografie Ben E. King". Ultratop Flanders (in Dutch). Retrieved July 31, 2021.
46. "Discographie Ben E. King". Ultratop Wallonia (in French). Retrieved July 31, 2021.
47. "Discografie Ben E. King". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Retrieved July 31, 2021.
48. "Discography Ben E. King". Norwegian Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
49. "Discography Ben E. King". Charts New Zealand. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
50. "British certifications – Ben E. King – Stand by Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 3, 2022.

External links

• Official website
• Ben E. King discography at Discogs

• 1938 births
• 2015 deaths
• Doo-wop musicians
• American male pop singers
• American baritones
• American soul singers
• The Drifters members
• Singer-songwriters from North Carolina
• Singer-songwriters from New Jersey
• Singer-songwriters from New York (state)
• Musicians from Teaneck, New Jersey
• Atlantic Records artists
• Atco Records artists
• African-American male singer-songwriters
• American male singer-songwriters
• American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
• 20th-century African-American male singers
• 20th-century American male singers
• 20th-century American singers
• 21st-century African-American male singers
• 21st-century American male singers
• African-American record producers
• Record producers from North Carolina