Ben Branch was an American saxophonist, vocalist, and band leader, most known for his work in Rhythm and Blues and Gospel music. He was the leader of the "Operation Breadbasket Orchestra and Choir," an act associated with the civil rights movement and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His most significant work, "The Last Request," was the song he played moments before King's assassination. Branch's influence extended beyond music, impacting civil rights and social change in the 1960s.