Ben E. King 1938-2015

News is circulating that Henderson, North Carolina-born singer Ben E. King has passed away at the age of 76. King reached the Top 40 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart seven times during his career, with four of those hits reaching the Top 10. Two of those hits are the same song, and it’s King’s highest-charting single, “Stand By Me.” In 1961, “Stand By Me” reached a peak position of number 4. Then, in 1986, based off its use in the film of the same name, “Stand By Me” reached the Top 10 again, this time peaking at number 9. King’s first Top 10 hit, though, was also his very first charting single, “Spanish Harlem,” which reached a peak position of number 10 in 1961.