Ben E King (September 28, 1938 – April 30, 2015)

The man who wrote the song that is a stable in a lot of weddings died. Ben E. King, along with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller recorded and produce the song ‘Stand By Me’ during some spare time in the studio after The Drifters just finish recording ‘Spanish Harlem’. The management behind The Drifters didn’t like the song and passed on it, missing out on a massive hit single.

Ben E. King originally from North Carolina, joined The Drifters in 1958. He left The Drifters over arguments about earnings and content management, all the singers were employees, which was a very old fashioned way of running a band.  It was while he was still employed with the band that he did the ‘Spanish Harlem’ and ‘Stand By Me’ for himself.

He had many other hits and he continued to work up until a few years ago but never really reached the heights of Stand By Me. Due to his songwriting rights and the use of the song for the film Stand By Me he secured a great and fruitful life.

Stand By Me – Ben E. King