Amoeba Music

With his clear singing and elegant production, Ben E. King is the definition of uptown soul. Many of his best-known songs feature the production and/or songwriting talents of Leiber & Stoller, who co-wrote with King his biggest hit, “Stand By Me.”

Benjamin Earl Nelson was born on September 23rd, 1938 in Henderson, North Carolina where he first sang with a church choir until his family relocated to Harlem in 1947. There, in junior high, he joined a doo-wop group, The Four Bs, who won second place at an Apollo Theater talent contest. In high school, Nelson was offered a spot with The Moonglows but he instead worked as a singing waiter for his father’s restaurant until joining another doo-wop group, The Five Crowns... Read More

City Of Origin:

Henderson, North Carolina, United States

Genre:

Oldies, Soul, Early Soul

Birthdate:

09/28/1938