| Ben E. King | |
|---|---|
Ben E. King, 2006 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Benjamin Earl Nelson |
| Also known as | Benjamin Earl King |
| Born | September 28, 1938 |
| Origin | Harlem, New York, New York, United States |
| Genres | Soul, rhythm and blues |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, keyboards |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Labels | Atco Records Atlantic Records |
| Associated acts | The Drifters The Five Crowns |
| Website | www.beneking.info |
Benjamin Earl King[1] (born September 28, 1938), better known as 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.[2]
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King was born Benjamin Earl Nelson on September 28, 1938 in Henderson, North Carolina,[2] and moved to Harlem, New York, at age 9.
In 1958, he 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. He had a string of R&B hits with the group on Atlantic Records. Nelson co-wrote and sang lead on the first Atlantic hit by the new version of the Drifters, "There Goes My Baby" (1959). He also sang lead, using his birth name, on a succession of hits by the team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, including "Save the Last Dance for Me", "Dance With Me", "This Magic Moment" and "I Count the Tears".[2] King only recorded 10 songs with The Drifters, including a non-single called "Temptation" (later redone by Drifters vocalist Johnny Moore).
Due to a dispute over his contract, including a salary increase and a fair share of royalties, King was never again given a chance by Drifters manager George Treadwell to perform with the group on tour or on television. After the dispute settled, King was hired only to sing until a replacement for him was found. On television, fellow Drifters member Charlie Thomas usually lip synched the songs that King had recorded with the Drifters.This end gave rise to a new beginning.
In May 1960, King left the Drifters,[2] assuming the more memorable stage name Ben E. King in preparation for a successful solo career. Remaining on Atlantic Records on its Atco imprint, King scored his first solo hit with the ballad "Spanish Harlem" (1961).[2] His 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. "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 other well-known songs were "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" (covered by Aretha Franklin in 1970), "Amor", "Seven Letters", "How Can I Forget", "On the Horizon", "Young Boy Blues", "I (Who Have Nothing)", "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. The song has been covered many times, notably by Luther Vandross and Martha Wash, John Lennon, Shirley Bassey, Liquid Smoke, Tom Jones, Sylvester James, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Jedi Mind Tricks, and more recently by American Idol contestant Jordin Sparks. 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 and minor pop hits, including "What is Soul?" (1967) and "Supernatural Thing" (1975). A 1986 re-issue of "Stand by Me" followed the song's use as the theme song to the movie Stand By Me.
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, 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."[3]
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 also had been nominated as a solo artist.
King's "I Who Have Nothing" was selected The Sopranos' Peppers and Eggs Soundtrack CD [2001].
Currently, King is active in his charitable foundation, the Stand By Me Foundation and is also a founding Champion of the Global Village Champions Foundation along with Muhammad Ali, Gary US Bonds and Yank Barry.[4] He has been a resident of Teaneck, New Jersey since the late 1960s.[5]
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, he performed "Stand By Me" on the Latin Grammys with Prince Royce.
More recently King has started a tour of the United Kingdom, with venues in England, Scotland and Wales. For a full list of the 2011 tour dates, visit CanAm Entertainment.
King's latest recording "Heart & Soul" on the CanAm Records label takes a page from The Great American Songbook and features contributions from various jazz greats. JazzTimes heralds King's new release for its emotional and musical impact. The album was released in late 2010.
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