Benjamin Earl King, better known as Ben E. King, the American R&B singer died on Thursday 30 April. He was 76.
King was best known for his smash hit song Stand By Me, released in 1961. A song covered by numerous artists, including Tracy Chapman. King furthered his success with songs like Spanish Harlem and Don’t Play That Song (You Lied).
King also started the Stand By Me Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that generates money for youths working towards furthering their education, as well as assisting various civic organisations to improve the lives of their constituents.
Although he had been struggling with various illnesses over the past couple of years, he still completed a tour of the United Kingdom in 2013.
Tributes flooded in on social media. Actor Wil Wheaton, singer Bootsy Collins and author Salman Rushdie all posted tributes to the late great singer.
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