It’s not often that an artist finds success after leaving a popular group. Ben E. King made it look easy in 1960, after parting ways with The Drifters.

Former Drifters front man Ben E. King began his solo career on October 27, 1960. After a very successful run with the doo wop group The Drifters, Ben E. King embarked on a solo endeavor that would see him gain immediate success with two chart topping songs, “Spanish Harlem,” and “Stand By Me.”

“Spanish Harlem” was King’s first hit record without The Drifters. Written by written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector the song climbed the Billboard charts, eventually peaking at #15 at R&B and #10 at Pop.

Legend has it “Stand By Me was the last of four songs King recorded in his first session as a solo artist. He originally wrote the record for The Drifters who passed on singing it. There have been several remakes of teh song which ranks at #121 on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time. It also made it into the Top Ten of the Billboard Charts twice, in 1961 and 1987 with the release of the movie “Stand B Me.

Ben E. King . R&B . Soul . The Drifters This Day in Soul