Ben E. King

Born: BENJAMIN EARL NELSON, 23 Sep'38, Henderson,

Relocating to Harlem with his family in 1947, KING began singing in gospel choirs. He subsequently played with high school doo-wop group The FOUR B's before moving on to join his first full-time band. The FIVE CROWNS, in his late teens. Although they cut a series of unsuccessful records, The 'CROWNS eventually struck lucky in summer 1958 when DRIFTERS manager, George Treadwell, fired his entire band and recruited KING & Co as replacements. Teamed up with crack writers JERRY LEIBER and MIKE STOLLER, the new look DRIFTERS were rejuvenated by a string of US Top 20 hits including THERE GOES MY BABY', 'DANCE WITH ME', THIS MAGIC MOMENT', 'SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME' and 'I COUNT THE TEARS'; king's emotive balladeering was at the epicentre of the group's appeal, flanked by lush strings and lilting latin rhythms. In May 1960, however, a complaint about low wages contributed to their star vocalist departing for a solo career. The partnership with LEIBER & STOLLER endured (alongside writers DOC POMUS and MORT SHUMAN), the pair even using new apprentice PHIL SPECTOR to help them pen king's first solo Top 10, 'SPANISH HARLEM', later that year. Yet the song that marked the definitive chapter in his career was penned by KING himself; a goose-bump hymn to the endurance of love amid impending catastrophe, 'STAND BY ME' was king's masterpiece and a deserved US Top 5 in summer '61. Ironically
enough, the track didn't make much headway in the UK chart (No.27!) until 1987 when it climbed to No.l after being used in the film of the same name (a poignant tale of boyhood coming-of-age starring a young River Phoenix).
Over the ensuing two years, the man had a further couple of major hits with DON'T PLAY THAT SONG (YOU LIED)' and 'I (WHO HAVE NOTHING)' although his success thereafter was largely confined to the R&B chart. The late 60's and early 70's proved a particularly tough time but a return to 'Atlantic' in 1975 found him back in the US Top 5 with 'SUPERNATURAL THING'. The accompanying Top 40 album, 'SUPERNATURAL' (1975), spawned a further minor hit with 'DO IT IN THE NAME OF LOVE' although that was to be his last chart action for over a decade. In mid '77, he teamed up with transplanted Scottish funksters The AVERAGE WHITE BAND for the 'BENNY & US' album, resulting in two R&B hits. Following 1981's 'STREET TOUGH' album, KING cut his losses and rejoined The DRIFTERS although he later briefly resurrected his solo career after the success of the aforementioned 'STAND BY ME' re-issue. • Trivia: KING gave a very brief cameo performance on the 1974 GENESIS album. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway'; the soul legend was drafted in to sing two closing words, "On Broadway" in the style of the original DRIFTERS hit which ironically he hadn't originally performed!

Discography:

1961 Spanish Harlem
1962 Ben E. King Sings for Soulful Lovers
1962 Don't Play That Song
1965 Seven Letters
1967 What Is Soul
1970 Rough Edges
1971 The Beginning of It All
1975 Supernatural Thing
1976 I Had a Love
1977 Benny and Us
1978 Let Me Live in Your Life
1980 Music Trance
1981 Street Tough
1988 Save the Last Dance for Me
1992 What's Important to Me
1999 Shades of Blue Half Note
2004 Stand by Me & Other Favorites Collectables
2006 I've Been Around True Life