Ben E King was one of the original inductee's of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. He continues to tour worldwide making frequent television appearances and performed at President Clinton's inauguration. Ben E. King recently made a special guest appearance on Broadway in "Smokey Joe's Cafe." He also is the founder and head of the Ben E. King Stand By Me Foundation, which generates funds for musical scholarships, educational programs, and other support for young people in need. Ben E. King has recently started performing with many symphony orchestra's throughout North America including the National Symphony on their July 4, 1996 PBS Special, the Edmonton, Hartford, Oklahoma City, Grand Rapids, Columbus, San Jose, North Carolina, Delaware, Seattle, Boca Raton Pops, Long Beach, Waterbury Greensboro, Delaware, Nashville, and San Antonio Symphonies.
Today, many years after making his first musical mark with the Drifters, Ben E King's Voice remains one of the most expressive instruments in music history. Born in Henderson, North Carolina, Ben E King had his first formal musical experience in hometown church choirs. His family moved to New York and Ben E. was discovered while working in his father's restaurant by the manager of the Five Crowns, Lover Patterson.
Many Critics and music observers agree that it was Ben's gospel-rooted, high-pitched vocal delivery that made the years between 1953 and 1958 the "Golden Age" of the Drifters, and has influenced every tenor, R&B vocalist to come along since.
In 1961, after a wealth of hits with the Drifters, Ben E King recorded "Spanish Harlem" as a solo artist. The song became one of the year's biggest hits, earning Ben E. the title of the outstanding vocalist of the year. "Stand By Me" his next hit went straight to Number 1 on the Charts. When it was re-released in 1986 along with the movie of the same name, an entire new generation of fans was introduced to the voice that was responsible for such hits as "Amore", " This Magic Moment", "Save The Last Dance For Me" and "There Goes My Baby". "Stand By Me" has also been used in many commercials by major corporations including Citi-Bank and most recently by Buick. Walt Disney Pictures recently made "Stand By Me" into an animated short film with the characters from "Lion King"
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