File:Ben_E._King_1990s.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Ben E. King
Sign in to saveAlso known as Ben King, Ben E King, Benjamin Earl King, Benjamin Earl Nelson
American singer (1938–2015)
Film & TV
Henderson, North Carolina, USA
Ben E. King, was an American soul and R&B singer and record producer. He was perhaps best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me"—a US Top 10 hit, both in 1961 and later in 1986 (when it was used as the theme to the film of the same name), a number one hit in the UK in 1987, and no. 25 on the RIAA's list of Songs of the Century—and as one of the principal lead singers of the R&B…
Known for
- Heaven Stood Still: The Incarnations of Willy DeVille — Self (archive footage)2024
- Bang! The Bert Berns Story — Self2016
- Lennon or McCartney — Self (voice)2014
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - Whole Lotta Shakin' — Self2009
- Ben E. King: Live in Concert2005
- Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music — Self2005
- Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years — Self (archive footage)2004
- Ed Sullivan Presents: Rock 'N' Roll Revolution: The British Invade America, America Fights Back — Self (archive footage)2003
- Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular — Self2001
- Chicago Hope1994
via TMDB
Key facts
- Born
- Benjamin Earl Nelson , ( 1938-09-28 ) September 28, 1938, Henderson, North Carolina , US
- Origin
- Harlem , New York, US
- Died
- April 30, 2015 (2015-04-30) (aged 76), Hackensack, New Jersey , US
- Genres
- Soul R&B doo-wop
- Occupations
- Singer songwriter record producer
- Instruments
- Vocals piano
- Years active
- 1958–2015
- Labels
- Atco Atlantic Ichiban
- Formerly of
- The Drifters
- Website
- beneking .info '
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Given name
- Benjamin
- Family name
- Nelson
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- United States
- Place of birth
- Henderson
- Place of death
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- musician
- Languages spoken
- English language
- Participant in
- Sanremo Music Festival 1964
- Genre
- rhythm and blues
- Instrument
- voice
- Record label
- Atco Records
- Official website
- beneking.info
- Image
- Ben E King Performing on the Final Day of the 2006 Summerfest.jpg
- Number of children
- 3
- Voice type
- baritone
Show 13 more facts
- Commons category
- Ben E. King
- date of birth
- 1938-09-28
- date of death
- 2015-04-30
- birth name
- Benjamin Earl Nelson
- member of
- The Drifters
- cause of death
- cardiovascular disease
- start of work period
- 1958-00-00
- pseudonym
- Ben E. King
- different from
- Ben King
- copyright representative
- Broadcast Music, Inc.
- ethnic group
- African Americans
- end of work period
- 2015-00-00
- manner of death
- natural causes
Sources (7)
via Wikidata · CC0
~11 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Benjamin Earl King (né Nelson; September 28, 1938 – April 30, 2015) was an American soul and R&B singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence as one of the principal lead singers of the R&B vocal group the Drifters, singing the lead vocals on three of their biggest hit singles: "There Goes My Baby", "This Magic Moment", and "Save the Last Dance for Me" (their only US number one hit).
As a soloist, King is best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", which became a US top-10 hit, both in 1961 and later in 1986 (when it was used as the theme to the film of the same name), and a number-one hit in the United Kingdom the following year. The single was also placed on the RIAA's list of Songs of the Century. His 1975 single "Supernatural Thing" became a top-five hit on the Billboard Hot 100. King was also the original recording artist of songs such as "Spanish Harlem", "I (Who Have Nothing)", "So Much Love", "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", "We're Gonna Groove", and "Till I Can't Take It Anymore", all of which have been covered by multiple artists to varying degrees of success.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Ben E. King” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.