Born Benjamin Earl Nelson (1938 – 2015), Ben E. King sang in church choirs in Henderson, N.C., until his family moved to Harlem when he was 9. He’s known most notably for the 1961 timeless hit “Stand By Me,” and as the lead vocalist for R&B/doo-wop group, The Drifters. The group’s catalog of hits include another classic, “This Magic Moment,” as well as “There Goes My Baby” and “Save The Last Dance For Me.”
See also: Celebrating Carolina artists during Black Music Month
