Ben E. King - Stand By Me
Tears Tears Tears
What Is Soul
Stand By Me
A Rose In Spanish Harlem
Cry No More
I Who Have Nothing
In 1975 he made the superb SUPERNATURAL THING
Ben E King was as popular on the live UK soul venue scene as Edwin Starr. He was never disappointing, a master soul purveyor. He had a distinguished singing career, starting in the 1950’s as the lead vocalist with the Drifters. He then set out on a solo career, starting with A ROSE IN SPANISH HARLEM, STAND BY ME and followed by a string of soul ballads. He had a wonderful, resonant voice, a world apart from some of the more ‘shouty’ soul singers.
In the early 1960s he was often copied by others with greater commercial success . As an example, I who Have Nothing became the signature song of Shirley Bassey and few people realize that hers was a cover version.
By the mid 1960s Ben E King was achieving the height of his soul rendering with numbers such as TEARS TEARS TEARS, and WHAT IS SOUL. CRY NO MORE was a huge hit at the Twisted Wheel in Manchester. Spanish Harlem was constantly played at end sessions at The Blue Note.
Ben E. King – Born: September 28, 1938 Died: April 30, 2015