"Stand by Me" singer Ben E. King dies

Started by quiller, May 02, 2015, 05:57:55 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

quiller

Stand By Me, Ben E King, 1961

QuoteR&B legend Ben E. King died on Thursday. He was 76.

The singer, best known for his hit "Stand By Me," died from natural causes, his publicist Phil Brown confirmed Friday.

Born Benjamin Nelson, King got his start singing with "The Drifters" back in 1950, who had popular hits like "There Goes My Baby" and "Save The Last Dance For Me."

He later went solo after he was denied a raise ("The Drifters" members were paid only $100 per week), and had "Stand By Me" become a top five hit in 1961. King said the song was originally intended for his former group, but they didn't like it.

He said that throughout his career, that was his favorite song he'd ever written.

http://dailycaller.com/2015/05/01/ben-e-king-who-sang-stand-by-me-has-died/

supsalemgr

"If you can't run with the big dawgs, stay on the porch!"

quiller

Quote from: supsalemgr on May 02, 2015, 06:07:28 AM
He was a good one.

Entertainment industry giant Variety says....

QuoteAs a member of the Drifters, King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, alongside Clyde McPhatter, Rudy Lewis, Johnny Moore, Bill Pinkney, Gerhart Thrasher and Charlie Thomas.

"Stand By Me" was named one of the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. It hit the top of the U.S. R&B singles chart in 1961 and the U.K. singles chart in 1987 when it was re-released as the theme song for the film of the same name. "Stand By Me," "Spanish Harlem" and the Drifters' "There Goes My Baby" were named three of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Those records also earned a Grammy Hall of Fame Award, along with the Drifters' "Save The Last Dance For Me." King's other notable tracks include "I (Who Have Nothing)," "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)," "Young Boy Blues" and "Amor."

Now, THAT'S a legacy.

http://variety.com/2015/music/obituaries-people-news/ben-e-king-dead-soul-singer-dies-stand-by-me-1201485566/

kit saginaw

This is my personal fave Ben E. performance, though he only sings one verse of it:

Soul Clan - Soul Meeting

I thought they'd be a 'supergroup', but there were too many moving-parts with different tour-schedules. 
R.I.P., Ben...  You're on the Grand Tour...


hobbsforever

Great song and movie too!  He will be missed.