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Ben E. King

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Biography

Other people|Ben KingBLP sources|date=July 2010Infobox musical artist | name = Ben E. King| image = Ben E King Performing on the Final Day of the 2006 Summerfest.jpg| caption = Ben E. King, 2006| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Benjamin Earl Nelson| alias = Benjamin Earl King| birth_date = Birth date and age|1938|9|28| death_date =| origin = Harlem , New York City|New York , New York , United States | instrument = Human voice|Vocals , piano , Keyboard instrument|keyboards | genre = Soul music|Soul , rhythm and blues | occupation = Singing|Singer , songwriter , record producer | years_active = 1958–present| label = Atco Records
Atlantic Records | associated_acts = The Drifters
The Five Crowns| website = URL|www.beneking.info Benjamin Earl King cite web|url= http://www.veromi.net/Summary.asp? fn=Ben& mn=E& ln=King& dobmm=& dobdd=& doby=1938& city=& state=& age=& vw=& Search=& Input=& x=88& y=11|title=King, Ben E.|publisher=Veromi|accessdate=2010-03-05 (born September 28, 1938), better known as Ben E. King , is an United States|American Soul music|soul Singing|singer . He is perhaps best known as the singer and songwriter|co-composer of " Stand by Me (song)|Stand by Me ," a United States|U.S. Top 40|Top 10 hit record|hit in both 1961 and 1986 and a record chart|#1 hit in the United Kingdom|UK in 1987, and as one of the principal lead singers of the R& B vocal group The Drifters .cite book
| first= Martin C.
| last= Strong
| year= 2000
| title= The Great Rock Discography
| edition= 5th
| publisher= Mojo Books
| location= Edinburgh
| pages= 531–532
| isbn= 1-84195-017-3

Early life


King was born Benjamin Earl Nelson on September 28, 1938 in Henderson, North Carolina|Henderson , North Carolina , and moved to Harlem , New York City|New York , at age 9.

Career


In 1958, King (still using his birth name) joined a doo wop group called The Five Crowns. Later in 1958, The Drifters' manager George Treadwell fired the members of the original Drifters, and replaced them with The Five Crowns. King had a string of R& B hits with the group on Atlantic Records . He co-wrote and sang lead on the first Atlantic hit by the new version of the Drifters, " There Goes My Baby (The Drifters song)|There Goes My Baby " (1959). He also sang lead on a succession of hits by the team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman , including " Save the Last Dance for Me ," " This Magic Moment ," and "I Count the Tears." King only recorded thirteen songs with The Drifters—ten lead vocal performances and three backing other lead singers—including a non-single called "Temptation" (later redone by Drifters vocalist Johnny Moore (musician)|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 (musician)|Charlie Thomas usually lip synch ed the songs that King had recorded with the Drifters. This end gave rise to a new beginning.

In May 1960, King left the Drifters, assuming the more memorable stage name Ben E. King in preparation for a successful solo career. Remaining on Atlantic Records on its Atco Records|Atco imprint, King scored his first solo hit with the ballad " Spanish Harlem (song)|Spanish Harlem " (1961). 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 include " Don't Play That Song (You Lied) ," "Amor," "Seven Letters," "How Can I Forget," "On the Horizon," " Young Boy Blues ," "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 .

King's records continued to place well on the Billboard Hot 100| 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, 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 (film)|Stand By Me , and re-entered the Billboard Top Ten after a 25-year absence.

In 1990, King and Bo Diddley , along with Doug Lazy , recorded a revamped Rapping|rap version of The Monotones ' 1958 hit song " The Book of Love (song)|Book of Love " for the soundtrack of the movie The Book of Love (song)|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." http://www.beneking.info/index.cfm? TPID=2 Beneking.info

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 has also been nominated as a solo artist.
King's "I (Who Have Nothing)" was selected for the '' Music on The Sopranos|The Sopranos ' Peppers and Eggs Soundtrack CD (2001).

On March 27, 2012, the Songwriters Hall of Fame announced that "Stand By Me" would receive its 2012 Towering Song Award and that King would be honored with the 2012 Towering Performance Award for his recording of the song. http://www.songhall.org/news/entry/stand_by_me_named_towering_song_ben_e_king_towering_performance_lance_freed www.songhall.org: Stand By Me Named Towering Song, Ben E. King Towering Performance, March 27, 2012. Accessed April 26, 2012.

Current activities


Currently, King is active in his charitable foundation, the Stand By Me Foundation, and is also a founding http://www.gogvm.com/champions.php Champion of the Global Village Champions Foundation along with Muhammad Ali , Gary US Bonds , and Yank Barry . http://www.benekingstandbyme.org/ Benekingstandbyme.org He has been a resident of Teaneck, New Jersey since the late 1960s.Beckerman, Jim. http://www.northjersey.com/betterliving/Ben_E_King_cant_stop_the_music.html? c=y& page=2 "Ben E. King can't stop the music", The Record (Bergen County) , May 10, 2008. Accessed March 1, 2009.

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 .

King toured the United Kingdom, performing at venues in England, Scotland and Wales during 2011. http://www.canamentertainment.com/en/ben-e-king-2/touring/ CanAm Entertainment

King's album Heart & Soul, released in 2010 on the CanAm Records label, takes a page from The Great American Songbook and features contributions from various jazz artists. JazzTimes heralded King's new release for its emotional and musical impact. http://jazztimes.com/articles/26595-ben-e-king-royalty-in-calgary JazzTimes

Discography


Albums


  • Spanish Harlem (album)|Spanish Harlem (1961, Atco) US: #57 UK Albums Chart|UK : #30cite book

    • | first= David
    | last= Roberts
    | year= 2006
    | title= British Hit Singles & Albums
    | edition= 19th
    | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
    | location= London
    | isbn= 1-904994-10-5
    | page= 302
  • Ben E. King Sings for Soulful Lovers (1962)

  • '' Don't Play That Song! (1962)

  • Young Boy Blues (1964)

  • '' Ben E. King's Greatest Hits (1964)

  • Seven Letters (Ben E. King album)|Seven Letters (1965)

  • What Is Soul (1967) (not issued in the U.S.)

  • Rough Edges (1970, Maxwell)

  • The Beginning of It All (1972, Mandala)

  • Supernatural (Ben E. King album)|Supernatural (1975, Atlantic) US: #39

  • I Had a Love (album)|I Had a Love (1976)

  • Rhapsody (Ben E. King album)|Rhapsody (1976)

  • Let Me Live in Your Life (1978)

  • Music Trance (1980)

  • Street Tough (1980)

  • Save the Last Dance for Me (album)|Save the Last Dance for Me (1987, EMI-Manhattan)

  • Stand by Me: The Ultimate Collection (1987, Atlantic) UK: #14

  • '' What's Important to Me (1991, Ichiban)

  • Anthology (Ben E. King album)|Anthology (1993, Rhino)

  • Shades of Blue (Ben E. King album)|Shades of Blue (1993, Half Note)

  • I Have Songs in My Pocket (1998, Bobby Susser )

  • The Very Best of Ben E. King (1998, Rhino) UK: #15

  • Eleven Best (2001, Cleopatra)

  • Person To Person: Live At The Blue Note (2003, Half Note)

  • Soul Masters (2005, Digital Music Group)

  • '' I've Been Around (album)|I've Been Around (2006, True Life)

  • Love Is Gonna Get You (album)|Love Is Gonna Get You (2007, Synergy)

  • Heart & Soul (2010–2011, CanAm Records)


    • Other albums


  • Benny and Us (1977) US: #33 ( Average White Band & Ben E. King)

  • The Atlantic Family Live in Montreux (1977) (A recording involving the Average White Band and other artists)

  • Soul Meeting (1968) (as a member of the Soul Clan)


    • Singles with The Drifters


  • " There Goes My Baby (The Drifters song)|There Goes My Baby " (1959) R& B: #1 US: #2

  • "Oh My Love (1959)

  • "Dance With Me" (1959) R& B: #2 US: #15 UK: #17

  • " This Magic Moment " (1960) R& B: #4 US: #16

  • "Lonely Winds" (1960) R& B: #9 US: #54

  • " Save The Last Dance For Me " (1960) R& B: #1 US: #1 UK: #2

  • "Nobody But Me" (1960)

  • "I Count the Tears" (1960) US: #17 UK: #28

  • "Sometimes I Wonder" (1962)

    • Solo singles


  • "Brace Yourself (1960, Atco)

  • "Show Me the Way" (1960, Atco)

  • "A Help Each Other (1960, Atlantic) with Lavern Baker

  • "How Often" (1960, Atlantic) with Lavern Baker

  • " Spanish Harlem (song)|Spanish Harlem (1961, Atco) R& B: #15 US: #10

  • "First Taste of Love" (1961) US: #53 UK: #27 ( A-side and B-side|b-side of "Spanish Harlem")

  • " Stand by Me (song)|Stand by Me " (1961) R& B: #1 US: #4 UK: #27

  • "Amor" (1961) R& B: #10 US: #18 UK: #38

  • "Young Boy Blues" (1961) US: #66

  • "Here Comes the Night" (1961) US: #81 (b-side of "Young Boy Blues")

  • "Ecstasy" (1962) US: #56

  • " Don't Play That Song (You Lied) " (1962) R& B: #2 US: #11

  • "Auf Wiedersehen, My Dear (1962)

  • "Too Bad" (1962) US: #88

  • "I'm Standing By" (1962) US:#111

  • "Tell Daddy" (1962) US:#122 R& B: #29

  • "How Can I Forget" (1963) R& B: #23 US: #85

  • " I (Who Have Nothing) " (1963) R& B: #16 US: #29

  • " I Could Have Danced All Night " (1963) US: #72

  • " What Now My Love (song)|What Now My Love " US:#102 (1964)

  • "That's When It Hurts" (1964)

  • "What Can A Man Do" (1964) US:#113

  • "It's All Over" (1964) US: #72

  • "Around The Corner" (1964) US:#125

  • "Seven Letters" (1965) R& B: #11 US: #45

  • "The Record (Baby I Love You)" (1965) Pop: #84 R& B: #24

  • "She's Gone Again" (1965) US: #128

  • "Cry No More" (1965)

  • "Goodnight My Love" (1965) US: #91

  • "So Much Love" (1966) US: #96

  • "Get In a Hurry" (1966)

  • "I Swear By Stars Above" (1966) R& B: #35 (b-side of "Get in a Hurry")

  • "They Don't Give Medals to Yesterday's Heroes" (1966)

  • "What Is Soul? " (1966) R& B: #38 (b-side of "They Don't Give...")

  • "A Man Without a Dream (1967)

  • "Tears, Tears, Tears" (1967) R& B: #34 US: #93 (b-side of "A Man Without...")

  • "Katherine" (1967)

  • "Don't Take Your Sweet Love Away" (1967) R& B: #44

  • "We Got a Thing Goin' On" (1968) with Dee Dee Sharp US: #127

  • " Don't Take Your Love from Me " (1968) US: #117

  • "Where's the Girl" (1968)

  • "It Ain't Fair" (1968)

  • "Til' I Can't Take It Anymore" US: #134

  • "Hey Little One" (1969)

  • "I Can't Take It Like a Man" (1970, Maxwell)

  • "Take Me to the Pilot" (1972, Mandala)

  • " Into the Mystic " (1972)

  • "Spread Myself Around" (1973)

  • "Supernatural Thing, Part 1" (1975, Atlantic) R& B: #1 US: #5

  • "Do It in the Name of Love" (1975) R& B: #4 US: #60

  • "We Got Love" (1975)

  • "I Had a Love" (1975) R& B: #23 (b-side of "We Got Love")

  • "I Betcha you Didn't Know" (1976)

  • "Get It Up" (1977) with Average White Band

  • "A Star in the Ghetto" (1977) R& B: #25 with Average White Band

  • "Fool for You Anyway" (1977) with Average White Band

  • "I See the Light" (1978)

  • "Fly Away to My Wonderland" (1978)

  • "Music Trance" (1979) R& B: #29

  • "Street Tough" (1981)

  • "You Made the Difference in My Life" (1981)

  • "Stand By Me re-issue" (1986) US: #9 UK: #1

  • "Spanish Harlem re-issue" (1987)

  • "Save the Last Dance for Me" re-recorded (1987, EMI-Manhattan) UK: #69

  • "What's Important to Me" (1991, Ichiban)

  • "You've Got All of Me" (1992)

  • "You Still Move Me" (1992)

  • "4th of July" (1997, Right Stuff)


    • References


    Reflist

    External links


    commonscat|Ben E. King
    The Drifters (American band)
    Persondata | NAME = King, Benjamin Earl
    | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Ben E. King
    | SHORT DESCRIPTION = American soul singer and composer
    | DATE OF BIRTH = September 28, 1938
    | PLACE OF BIRTH = Henderson, North Carolina, United States
    | DATE OF DEATH =
    | PLACE OF DEATH =
    DEFAULTSORT:King, Ben E. Category:1938 births
    Category:Living people
    Category:American male singers
    Category:African American musicians
    Category:American pop singers
    Category:American rhythm and blues singers
    Category:American soul singers
    Category:The Drifters members
    Category:Musicians from North Carolina
    Category:Musicians from New Jersey
    Category:Musicians from New York
    Category:People from Teaneck, New Jersey
    Category:Atlantic Records artists

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