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‘Stand By Me’ singer Ben E. King dead at age 76
WTOP ^ | May 1, 2015 12:55 pm | By The Associated Press

Posted on 05/01/2015 11:48:43 AM PDT by yuffy

NEW YORK (AP) — Ben E. King, the unforgettable lead singer for the Drifters and solo star whose plaintive baritone graced such pop and rhythm ‘n blues classics as “Stand by Me,” ”There Goes My Baby” and “Spanish Harlem,” has died. He was 76.

King died Thursday of natural causes in Teaneck, New Jersey, his longtime residence, publicist Phil Brown told The Associated Press on Friday.

A native of North Carolina who moved to New York City as a boy, King was singing with the Five Crowns when they were hired in 1958 to become the new incarnation of the Drifters, a top act for Atlantic Records who had several doo-wop hits featuring tenor Clyde McPhatter. The new Drifters, their records among the first in the rock era to use strings, had a more polished production and vocal style and became key influences on numerous ’60s recordings.

King co-wrote and sang lead on “There Goes My Baby,” and he and the Drifters followed with such favorites as “Save the Last Dance for Me” and “This Magic Moment,” romantic and emotional ballads mostly written by the team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman.

(Excerpt) Read more at wtop.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: benking; music; obituary; standbyme
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To: Covenantor
“Stand by Me” was recorded in 1960, wtitten by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

I saw Ben E. King perform in Washington, DC in 1979 and Leiber & Stoller in Los Angeles some years later when they appeared on stage at the conclusion of Smokey Joe's Cafe, a musical revue featuring their songs.

21 posted on 05/01/2015 1:19:29 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: yuffy

RIP, Ben E. King. Thank you for your gifts.


22 posted on 05/01/2015 1:44:52 PM PDT by Gator113 (Cruz, Lee, and Sessions speak for me.... most anyone else is just noise.)
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To: yuffy

He was the “voice” of the drifters. Chances are that if you
remember hearing the Drifters, you heard him as the lead voice.


23 posted on 05/01/2015 1:48:01 PM PDT by capt. norm (Start every day off with a smile and get it over with.)
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