Ben E. King: A Musical Legend

### The Drifters Era: A Foundation of Hits

In 1958, King, still performing under his birth name, joined the doo-wop group the Five Crowns. This proved to be a pivotal moment, as later that year, George Treadwell, the manager of the renowned vocal group The Drifters, made a bold decision. He dissolved the original lineup of The Drifters and replaced them with the members of the Five Crowns, effectively ushering King into one of music's most celebrated ensembles. During his tenure with The Drifters, King contributed to a string of R&B hits on Atlantic Records. He not only co-wrote but also sang lead on "There Goes My Baby" (1959), the group's first hit with Atlantic. King's smooth, soulful voice fronted a succession of chart-toppers penned by the songwriting duo Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, including the timeless classics "Save the Last Dance for Me," "This Magic Moment," and "I Count the Tears." While his time with The Drifters was relatively brief, encompassing only 13 recorded songs (two as backing vocals and eleven as lead), his impact was profound. The final Drifters single featuring King's vocals, "Sometimes I Wonder," was recorded in May 1960, although it wasn't released until June 1962, underscoring the enduring quality of his performances.

Contractual disagreements with Treadwell led to King's departure from The Drifters in May 1960. Seeking greater compensation and creative control, King, now adopting the stage name Ben E. King, embarked on a solo career. He remained with Atlantic Records, signing with its Atco imprint. His initial solo releases, "Show Me the Way"/"Brace Yourself" and "A Help-Each-Other"/"How Often" (a duet with Lavern Baker), did not achieve significant chart success. However, his fortunes began to turn with his third single, "First Taste of Love." While it reached number 53 on the US Billboard charts, it found greater favour in the UK, peaking at number 27. The true breakthrough came in 1961 with "Spanish Harlem," a song masterfully crafted by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector. This soulful ballad propelled King into the Top 10 of the US pop charts, reaching number 10, and also secured a respectable number 15 on Billboard's R&B chart.

### The Genesis of "Stand by Me" and Enduring Success

The year 1961 also witnessed the release of what would become King's signature song and an enduring anthem of loyalty and support: "Stand by Me." Co-written with Leiber and Stoller, the song's profound message and King's deeply emotive delivery resonated with audiences worldwide. Its cultural significance was later recognised when it was voted one of the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America. King himself cited his vocal influences for the song as Brook Benton, Roy Hamilton, and Sam Cooke, highlighting the rich tapestry of soul and R&B that shaped his distinctive sound. The monumental achievements of "Stand by Me," "There Goes My Baby," "Spanish Harlem," and "Save the Last Dance for Me" were further cemented by their inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, with each of these landmark recordings also earning a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. King's prolific output continued with a string of other beloved tracks, including "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)," "Amor," "Seven Letters," and "How Can I Forget," among many others. In the summer of 1963, "I (Who Have Nothing)" became another hit, reaching the Top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Top 10 on prominent New York radio station WMCA.

King's records continued to perform well on the Billboard Hot 100 through the mid-1960s. While British pop bands began to dominate the music scene, King remained a force in R&B, releasing further hits such as "What is Soul?", "Tears, Tears, Tears," and "Till I Can't Take It Anymore." A significant resurgence in his career occurred in 1975 with the disco-infused hit "Supernatural Thing." This track soared to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and claimed the top spot on the Billboard R&B chart. Its success also earned King a Grammy nomination for "best R&B vocal performance, male" at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards. The following year, King collaborated with the Average White Band on the album "Benny & Us," which yielded two Top 40 R&B hits: "A Star in the Ghetto" and "Get It Up."

### Later Career and Lasting Impact

In a remarkable turn of events, Ben E. King rejoined The Drifters in late 1982, performing with them in the United Kingdom until the group's dissolution and subsequent reorganisation in 1986. During this period, from 1983 until the band's split, he shared the stage with Johnny Moore, Joe Blunt, and Clyde Brown.

The year 1986 marked another significant milestone for "Stand by Me." Its inclusion as the theme song for the critically acclaimed film of the same name propelled the song back into the Billboard Top 10, a quarter-century after its initial release. This resurgence also saw "Stand by Me" top the charts in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland for three consecutive weeks in February 1987. This remarkable achievement made King the first artist to have a Top 10 hit on the Hot 100 in four different decades – the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s – either as a member of The Drifters or as a solo artist.

King's creative output continued into the 1990s and beyond. In 1990, he collaborated with Bo Diddley and Doug Lazy on a hip-hop rendition of The Monotones' 1958 hit "Book of Love" for the soundtrack of the movie "Book of Love." In 1998, he released a children's album, "I Have Songs In My Pocket," a project written and produced by children's music artist Bobby Susser. The album garnered critical acclaim, receiving the Early Childhood News Directors' Choice Award and the Dr. Toy's/the Institute for Childhood Resources Award. In 2007, King delivered a memorable performance of "Stand by Me" on the "Late Show with David Letterman." Reflecting on King's immense contribution, Ahmet Ertegun, a legendary music executive, declared, "King is one of the greatest singers in the history of rock and roll and rhythm and blues."

Throughout his illustrious career, both as a member of The Drifters and as a solo artist, Ben E. King achieved multiple number-one hits, including "There Goes My Baby," "Save the Last Dance for Me," "Stand By Me," "Supernatural Thing," and the 1986 re-issue of "Stand by Me." Across the US pop and R&B charts combined, he amassed 12 Top 10 hits and 28 Top 40 hits, solidifying his status as a consistent chart-topper.

King's immense talent and influence were formally recognised through various prestigious accolades. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Drifters, and he also received a nomination as a solo artist. In 2009, he was honoured with induction into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Further recognition came on March 27, 2012, when the Songwriters Hall of Fame announced that "Stand by Me" would receive its 2012 Towering Song Award, and that King himself would be honoured with the 2012 Towering Performance Award for his iconic recording of the song. His re-recording of "I (Who Have Nothing)" was also featured on the "The Sopranos Peppers and Eggs Soundtrack CD" in 2001.

### Key Career Highlights: