Benjamin Nelson
Benjamin Earl Nelson, known professionally as Ben E. King, was an influential American soul and R&B singer and songwriter born on September 28, 1938, in Henderson, North Carolina. He moved to Harlem, New York, at the age of nine, where he began his musical journey singing in church choirs and later forming a doo-wop group called the Four B's during his high school years.
In 1958, King joined the Five Crowns, a doo-wop group that later became the Drifters under the management of George Treadwell. As the lead singer of the Drifters, King contributed to several of their hits, including "There Goes My Baby," "This Magic Moment," and "Save the Last Dance for Me." After leaving the Drifters due to contract disputes, King embarked on a successful solo career.
As a solo artist, King is best known for the classic hit "Stand by Me," which he co-composed. The song was a top-10 hit in the United States in 1961 and again in 1986 when it was featured in the film of the same name. Other notable solo hits include "Spanish Harlem," "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)," and "Supernatural Thing."
King's contributions to music were recognized with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of the Drifters. His song "Stand by Me" was added to the U.S. Library of Congress's National Recording Registry in 2014. Ben E. King passed away on April 30, 2015, in Hackensack, New Jersey, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence artists across genres.
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