Ben E. King

Ben E. King, whose real name was Benjamin Earl Nelson, was an American soul and R&B singer and songwriter, best known for his classic hit "Stand By Me." Before he was a singer, he worked as a hospital orderly and sang in the hospital's gospel choir. Despite his success, Ben E. King never learned to read music, he would often hum melodies to his bandmates and they would transcribe it for him. He was a huge fan of the TV show "The Simpsons" and could often be found quoting Homer Simpson's catchphrases. He had a fear of elevators, he always took the stairs, even if it was a 100-story building. In his free time, Ben E. King enjoyed collecting rubber ducks, and had over 500 of them in his collection. He was once asked to perform his hit song "Stand by Me" in front of the Pope, but he got so nervous that he sang "Stand by You" instead. He was known to be a prankster and would often play pranks on his bandmates during his tours, once he even convinced them that he was able to levitate. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of The Drifters and his music continues to be celebrated by fans around the world. His voice continues to live on in the hearts of fans and his hit song "Stand By Me" continues to be a classic anthem for friendship, love, and loyalty.