Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Jan. 9, 1986, edition 1 / Page 15
Part of The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
• ★ ju*^*eMa W 2 * itfiasr* 2 * iWJrJaj* POST fra*t«-*l Criming (nmmunilt Vln-kK" —-- --- ■- ^■ , , .... __ Thun4«y. January *, IMS - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Page IB Ben E. King’s ___ • ^ - n » c Voice Is A Most Expressive Instrument V**>J*- . _ By Loretta Manago Post Managing Editor £ Morjs than 20 years after he made his first musical mark wifii the Drifters, Ben E. King’s voice remains one of the most expressive instruments ever to be presented on vinyl. In fact, if anything, time and experience have brought added nuances, shadings and a mature subtlety to his gift. Ben E. King has got the voice and when the master sings, there’s nothing else like it in the world. His story is not touch different from others in the entertainment . field! Ringing in the dhurch chcdr ' was Ben E. King’s first formal musical experience. With a move to Hariem Ben King al.«n ' moved from gospel to secular music. He formed a group called the Foyr B’s.feach member’s first name began with the letter B). “The best I could get out of that group, though,” King re called, “was marrying Betty, the sister of the two brothers in the Four B’s. There were more for King to go through !^T^gf,rofthe ajor Dreaxs of ms career, one of which was an opportunity to sing with the Moonglows. “I had the chance to be one of the Moonglows,’’ King noted, “very few people know about that. I fit in but I just in ’59 King was singing in his SINGER BEN E. KING —Destined for aolo career father’s restaurant; the man ager of a group called the Five Crowns stopped in. And that was really when it all began to happen for King. In 1999 the original Drifters had disbanded. This left their manager with a recording con tract with Atlantic Records to fulfill, as well as a long-term performance contract for annual appearances at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre. The Five Crowns with the new addition of King stepped in and became the new Drifters. For King, entering Atlantic Studios for the first time was a dream come true. “There Goes My Baby,” their debut single reached the top 5 on both pop and R&B charts. Many critics and music observers insisted that it was King’s gospel-rooted, high pitched vocal delivery, both with the Drifters and then on his own - that has influenced every high tenor R&B vocalist to come along since. As long as Ben King was with' the £)rifters and especially as long as he sung lead, the Drifters scored hit after hit. But as fate would have it, Ben King was destined for a solo career. At an Atlantic session, a mid-winter snowstorm kept the other three Drifters from at tending. Phil Spector, a young discovery of Leiber and Stoller was supervising the recording. King had brought along “Spa nish Harlem,” a tune he had co written with Leiber. And al though Ben had sung solo be fore, this time the session really clicked. Another hit came with “Stand By Me,” followed by “Don’t Play That Song” and King’s biggest record to date, “I (Who Have Nothing).” In association with writer producer Bob Gallo in 1963 an admittedly strange single called “What Is Soul?” proved to be King’s first hit record outside of the States, first in Canada, then in Europe. Succeeding in Europe was not the same as making it here in the States. After being on foreign soil for a number of years King got the feeling to go “American style.” Returning to the States, King also returned to the Atlantic family. With the releases of “Let Me Live In Your Life” and “Street Tough” King is spreading his magic all over again. Diana Roes To Host Prime Time Special Diana Rons will boat the Music Awards,” airing on ABC-TV as a three-hour prime-time special, Mon day, January », Ml p m His awards special, pro duced by Dick Clark Tele vision Productions, lac , will originate ‘Tire” from Lob Ai^a»aaA^V^*^> V :T There will be • apecial appearance by Lionel Bigg, teteowt bee via wiD be Joined by eome of appearance, live via satel lite from Hang Kong, will. be Madonna;: • Nomination* for "Ameri can Music Awards" are in three categories - pop rock; country and soul - rhythm and blues There are nine awards in each cate gory - favorite male and female vocalist; favorite group, favorite album and •ingle; favorite male and female video artist; favorite video group and favorite video single. Winners are determined by votes cast by a cross section of the American record-buying public in a poll conducted by Herbert Altman Communications Research, Inc.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 9, 1986, edition 1
15
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75