Standing the test of time

Singer Ben E King dies of natural causes as his song ‘Stand By Me’ continues to inspire

NEW YORK: Soul singer Ben E King, whose Gospel-influenced ‘Stand By Me’ became one of the most broadcast songs of the 20th century, has died at 76, his spokesperson said Friday. King, who lived in New Jersey, died of natural causes on Thursday, said spokesperson Phil Brown.

R&B singer Gary US Bonds, who had collaborated with King, wrote on Facebook that he was “one of the sweetest, gentlest and gifted souls that [he has] had the privilege of knowing and calling [his] friend for more than 50 years.”

King was born in North Carolina but moved as a child to New York City, where he had his start in doo wop and R&B. He initially wrote ‘Stand By Me’ for another band before recording it himself. Influenced by a traditional Gospel spiritual and a Psalm, the song was led by a now instantly identifiable bass line and featured chord progressions common in 1950s popular music.

The song was first released in 1961 but had several revivals and was covered hundreds of times in various genres. ‘Stand By Me’ went on to become the fourth most broadcast song on US radio and television in the 20th century, with more than seven million plays, according to songwriting company BMI.

The song inspired the 1986 movie Stand By Me, a coming-of-age drama directed by Rob Reiner, and appeared again in a jeans’ commercial. The Library of Congress earlier this year chose ‘Stand By Me’ for its National Recording Registry of “American treasures.”

In its announcement, the Library of Congress said ‘Stand By Me’ carried “perhaps the best known bassline in recording history,” which was composed by songwriter Mike Stoller and played by Lloyd Trotman. “But it was King’s incandescent vocal that made it a classic,” it said.

King remained active in his later life and kept touring. He also set up the Stand By Me Foundation, based in his home of Teaneck, New Jersey, that supported youth education.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2015.

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