Stand By Me singer dies at 76
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Legend … Ben E King at the Songwriters Hall Of Fame 2012 Annual Induction Ceremony. Picture: Splash
Source: Supplied
BEN E King, the singer whose song Stand By Me became a classic around the world, has died at the age of 76.
His publicist confirmed to The Telegraph that he died of natural causes on Thursday.
The R&B and soul singer was more than just a one-hit-wonder however, singing on hits with The Drifters, including There Goes My Baby and Save The Last Dance For Me.
King’s other hits included Spanish Harlem, Amor, Don’t Play That Song (You Lied) and Supernatural Thing — Part I.
However it is hard to write about King and not mention Stand By Me — a song which was the fourth most-played track of the 20th Century.
While it only made the top five on the US charts when it was released in 1961, it has re-entered the charts about a dozen times since, often covered by artists like John Lennon.
It again made the charts when the River Phoenix movie of the same name made it popular with a whole new audience when it hit cinemas in 1986.
Loved singing Stand By Me … Singer Ben E King in March 1990. Picture: Supplied
Source: News Corp Australia
King was never above singing the crowd-pleasing track when asked and in 2013 pledged to play it for the rest of his life if that’s what fans wanted.
“I’m so proud it has stood the test of time,” he said.
