The Legend of R & B singer of "Stand By Me" Ben E. died at 76

Musician R & B and soul, Ben. E. King , best known for his ballad "Stand By Me" in 1961, has died at the age of 76 years.

The baritone died Thursday. His spokesman confirmed the news to NBC News . No other details were given.

King was born Benjamin Earl Nelson  September 28, 1938 in Henderson, North Carolina, and raised in the New York neighborhood of Harlem. He became known in the 50s as a member of the group The Drifters , with whom he recorded popular songs like "There Goes My Baby" and "Save The Last Dance For Me", before embarking on a solo career, recording hits like "Spanish Harlem" and later, "Stand By Me", the title that made ​​him famous.


In 1986, "Stand By Me" appears on the soundtrack to the movie of the same name, the story of children who mature with Wil Wheaton ,  Jerry O'Connell ,  Corey Feldman , Kiefer Sutherland  and the late River Phoenix . Wheaton and appear to him in the clip  illustrating the song and the film that can be seen on the DVD.

"I met Ben E. King once, when we did the video for Stand By Me , "he tweeted  Wheaton Friday. "He was a kind and wonderful man. May he rest in peace."