Ben E. King was an American soul and R&B singer best known for his soft, emotive vocal style. He gained prominence in the late 1950s as one of the lead singers of the Drifters, a popular doo-wop group, before obtaining further fame as a solo artist in the 1960s. King's most influential work is arguably "Stand by Me", a sentimental ballad that has been covered by numerous artists and has had a significant impact on popular music. His contributions to the R&B genre and his iconic hit songs solidified his place in music history.