Ben E. King
His soaring, velvet baritone gave soul music one of its most timeless and emotionally resonant anthems, 'Stand by Me.'
1938–2015 (age 77)·American singer·Birthday: September 28·The Silent Generation
Biography
Ben E. King’s voice was an instrument of profound warmth and reassurance, a sound that became a cornerstone of 1960s soul. Born in North Carolina and raised in Harlem, he first found fame as the lead singer for the Drifters, helping to steer the group from doo-wop into a lusher, string-laden sound on hits like 'There Goes My Baby.' His solo career, however, cemented his legacy. In 1961, he co-wrote and recorded 'Stand by Me,' a song built on a haunting bass line that fused gospel, R&B, and pop into a universal plea for loyalty. Though it was only a moderate hit initially, its power endured, becoming a cultural touchstone through film and countless covers. King never matched that single's commercial peak again, but his dignified presence and that one perfect recording ensured his voice would stand as a permanent comfort.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Ben was born in 1938, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ben Was Born
The biggest hits of 1938
#1 Movie
You Can't Take It with You
Best Picture
You Can't Take It with You
Ben's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1938Born
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1943Started school
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1951Became a teenager
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1954Could drive
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1956Could vote
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Turned 21
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1968Turned 30
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 40
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 50
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 60
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 70
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2015Died at 77
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote and performed the classic 'Stand by Me,' which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
- As lead singer of the Drifters, sang on the seminal hits 'There Goes My Baby,' 'This Magic Moment,' and 'Save the Last Dance for Me.'
- His 1975 re-release of 'Stand by Me' reached the Top 10 in the UK, reigniting the song's global popularity.
- Received the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award in 1991 for his contributions to the genre.
Did You Know?
He was discovered while working as a singing waiter in Harlem.
The iconic bass line for 'Stand by Me' was inspired by a spiritual song, 'Lord Stand By Me.'
Before joining the Drifters, he was in a group called The Five Crowns, which essentially became the new Drifters lineup.
He turned down an offer to join the U.S. Army band during the Korean War to pursue music.
“I'm not a writer who sits down and writes every day. I have to be inspired.”
