‘Stand By Me’ singer Ben E King dead at 76

Ben E King, the soul singer whose Gospel-influenced “Stand By Me” became one of the most broadcast songs of the 20th century, has died at 76, his spokesman said on Friday.

King, who lived in New Jersey, died of natural causes yesterday, spokesman Phil Brown told AFP. 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 I have had the privilege of knowing and calling my 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 progessions common in 1950s popular music.