In Memoriam
Ben E. King
September 28, 1938 – April 30, 2015 · aged 76
Soul · R&B
Benjamin Earl King was a foundational architect of sophisticated, orchestral soul music whose elegant voice defined an era. Born in North Carolina in 1938 and raised in Harlem, he first achieved fame as the lead singer of The Drifters, lending his smooth, soaring baritone to classics like 'There Goes My Baby' and 'Save the Last Dance for Me.' In 1960, he launched a solo career and co-wrote a song based on a traditional gospel hymn. That track, 'Stand By Me,' became an absolute colossus of pop culture—a timeless anthem of devotion and solidarity that has been covered hundreds of times and returned to the top of the charts decades after its release. King's effortless, gospel-tinged delivery set the benchmark for generations of R&B vocalists. A tireless philanthropist in his later years, he passed away from coronary problems on April 30, 2015, at the age of 76. His signature song remains one of the most beloved recordings of the 20th century.
Milestones
Stand By Me, There Goes My Baby, Save the Last Dance for Me
Chart legacy
Also remembered in 2015
- B.B. King (1925–2015)
- Lemmy Kilmister (1945–2015)
- Ornette Coleman (1930–2015)
- Scott Weiland (1967–2015)