Legendary Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Ben E. King dies at the Age of 76 in New Jersey
Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductee and original lead singer for the Drifters, Ben E. King died in New Jersey on April 30 at the age of 76. King was best known for his hit tunes “Stand By Me,” a #1 R&B and mega hit, which he co-wrote with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. He is also known for “Spanish Harlem,” “Supernatural Thing,” and “Don’t Play That Song.”
The legendary singer was born Benjamin Earl Nelson, in Henderson, North Carolina. At the age of nine, Ben relocated to New York City with his family, where he would first discover his gift of singing, while attending Jr. High School with other gifted young people. Ben attended after school, impromptu doo-wop sessions which would take his talents to another level and introduce him to a musical career that he would have never imagined and take him on a musical journey for decades.
In 1958, the renowned Hall of Famer became a member of the Five Crowns, a local group who opened shows for well-known groups. Ben would, henceforth, reach the big-time, as the same year, the Five Crowns would open up for the world famous R&B group, The Drifters, at an Apollo Theater concert. The Five Crowns would later replace the whole Drifters group; thus, opening the door for Ben to sing lead for the greatest R&B group, at the time. In 1959, the group would make their first recording, with Atlantic Records, titled “There Goes My Baby.” The recording, which Ben co-wrote with Leiber & Stoller), was a smash-hit.
In 1960, Ben made the decision to become a solo artist and he would change his name to Ben E. King. He went on to record several hit songs. He made an appearance on The David Letterman Show. Because of his love for youth and those less fortunate in American, Ben established a charitable foundation, The Stand By Me Foundation, to help meet some of their needs. The foundation allowed the renowned artist to reinvest in the community which held dear to him.
Ben E. King’s career was poetically summed up this way: “As the auburn moon glows and the grand sun keeps shining, Ben E. King’s contribution to the world of music is one that will not only stand the test of time but one that will flourish incessantly. His creative expression will be missed by all,” cited Public Relations Specialist Phil Brown.
The Iconic Legend is survived by his mother Jenny, his wife Betty, his three children, and six grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are under way and are expected to be announced within days.
