Renowned soul and R&B singer Ben E. King, has passed away at the age of 76. According to a report furnished by The Telegraph, singer best known for the iconic song “Stand By Me,” died from natural causes on Thursday.
King emerged in the 1950’s as a member of the The Drifters, lending his powerful vocals as lead on classics such as “There Goes My Baby,” Save The Last Dance,” and “This Magic Moment. The Drifters would go on to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inn 1988.
Due to a contractual disagreement, King would leave the The Drifters at the top of the 1960’s— striking out on his own and hitting it big. His first top ten hit would come in the form of the memorable ballad, “Spanish Harlem.” But it would be the massively successful “Stand By Me” that would become his trademark tune, and a timeless classic.