Talk:Ben E. King

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A news item involving Ben E. King was featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the In the news section on 1 May 2015.

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The Drifters?

Did he record any albums with them? Strangely, he has singles with them 1959-1962 (credited as "The Drifters"), but all the albums from that time are credited to "Ben E. King". 82.141.124.221 (talk) 14:35, 12 February 2012 (UTC)[reply]

At the time, it was not unusual for an an artist to record a series of singles that would later be compiled into an album, rather than recording specifically for an album. This was the case with the Drifters during King's tenure. The first album to feature the King-era Drifters was The Drifters' Greatest Hits, issued in September of 1960, by which time King had already stopped recording with the group. (He had stopped touring with them a year earlier). This compilation included non-hit (and previously unissued) tracks by the group between the McPhatter and King eras, so it isn't really a proper album by Ben E. King's Drifters. The Drifters would not issue another album until Save The Last Dance For Me in February of 1962, another compilation album that included tracks from before, during, and after King's stint with the group. So, no, there was no proper album recorded by The Drifters with King; only albums including some of his singles.

For the record (so to speak), the thirteen tracks recorded by The Drifters with King are:

There Goes My Baby

Oh My Love

Hey Senorita (lead vocal by Charlie Thomas)

Baltimore (lead vocal by Charlie Thomas and Elsbeary Hobbs)

(If You Cry) True Love, True Love (lead vocal by Johnny Lee Williams)

Dance With Me

This Magic Moment

Lonely Winds

Temptation

Save The Last Dance For Me

Nobody But Me

I Count The Tears

Sometimes I Wonder

Of these, only "Temptation" was not issued on a single. The Drifters re-recorded "Temptation" in 1964 with Johnny Moore on lead. I'm not sure when, where, or even if King's version of "Temptation" finally became available. Pstoller (talk) 22:28, 28 March 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for posting this list PStoller, very informative. I am about 99% certain "Hey Senorita" has a lead vocal by Ben E. King, and not Charlie Thomas. It really sounds like the same raspy voice King employed on "Lonely Winds." It would be a minor change, but it should say in the article that King had 11 lead performances and not 10. (Also, two backing performances and not three) If noone objects to this over the next week or so, I'll change it. Thanks. TW

There's some debate over whether it's Charlie Thomas or Ben E. King singing "Hey Senõrita." Thomas is widely credited: his voice is somewhat similar to King's (listen to Thomas' leads on "Baltimore," "Sweets For My Sweet" and "When My Little Girl Is Smiling"). However, it certainly sounds more like King on the record, and it fits with the story that Thomas was supposed to sing lead but choked, thereby helping to launch Ben E. King's career. As Mike Stoller was there, i'll ask him if he remembers. (If he doesn't, I could shoot a message to Ben E. King and see if he remembers.) Meanwhile, please don't change the text until I can confirm or deny. Pstoller (talk) 01:50, 13 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]

To follow up: Both Mike Stoller and Ben E. King confirm that it is King, not Charlie Thomas, singing lead on "Hey Señorita." I have already adjusted the article text accordingly, and I thank TW for pointing out the error. Pstoller (talk) 00:15, 27 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]

External links is not a parking lot for sources. They belong here, on talk pages until they are used up.

These sources do not ever belong in External links. I have moved the link farm from there to this talk page where they do belong. Warning: I didn't check them over, so be careful in choosing any references here. Thank you! --Leahtwosaints (talk) 05:16, 24 April 2012 (UTC)[reply]

CanAm Records — Ben E. King's current own label
Ben E. King at AllMusic
Ben E. King discography on Discogs
Ben E. King profile on VH1
Ben E. King on Vocal Group Hall of Fame
Ben E. King recording of "Now Let Me Fly" for Pioneers For A Cure

Global Village Champions

A quick note about why I removed the mention of Yank Barry's foundation. The source does mention King, but it also still mentions Celine Dion, and she's made clear she wants nothing to do with Barry [1]. Between that and WP:DUE weight concerns, I think it would be wise to find solid WP:SECONDARY sources before re-adding the info. Much of this is currently being discussed over at Talk:Yank Barry, by the way. Grayfell (talk) 06:50, 31 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]