Ben E. King

Ben E. King is an American soul singer. He is perhaps best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", a U.S. Top 10 hit in both 1961 and 1986 and a #1 hit in the UK in 1987, and as one of the principal lead singers of the R&B vocal group The Drifters.

In 1958, King joined a doo wop group called The Five Crowns. Later in 1958, The Drifters' manager fired the members of the original Drifters, and replaced them with The Five Crowns. King had a string of R&B hits with the group. He co-wrote and sang lead on "There Goes My Baby". He also sang lead on a succession of hits including "Save the Last Dance for Me," "This Magic Moment," and "I Count the Tears."

In May 1960, King left the Drifters and began his successful solo career. King scored his first solo hit with the ballad "Spanish Harlem". His next single, "Stand by Me", would be voted as one of the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America. "Stand by Me", "There Goes My Baby," and "Spanish Harlem" were named as three of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and were all given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award as well as "Save The Last Dance For Me."

King's records continued to place well on the Billboard Hot 100 chart until 1965. British pop bands began to dominate the pop music scene, but King still continued to make R&B hits, including "What is Soul?" and "Supernatural Thing" 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.

In 1990, King and Bo Diddley, along with Doug Lazy, recorded a revamped rap 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, in 1998, which won the "Early Childhood News' Directors' Choice Award" and "Dr. Toy's/The Institute For Childhood Resources Award."

As a Drifter and as a solo artist, King had achieved five No. 1 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." He also earned 12 Top 10 hits and 25 Top 40 hits from 1959 to 1986. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a Drifter; he has also been nominated as a solo artist.

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.

Music Video

 * Stand by Me