This week’s music Wednesday is dedicated to singer/songwriter/record producer Ben E. King who passed away on April 30, 2015, at the age of 76. With The Drifters, he had a number of hits including “There Goes My Baby,” “This Magic Moment,” and “Save The Last Dance For Me.” In 1960, King left the group and immediately enjoyed two solo hits, “Stand By Me,” which he wrote with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and “Spanish Harlem,” written by  Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector.

Very few songs have hit the Top Ten twice, but “Stand By Me” did just that, first on its initial release 1961 and then again in 1986 when the movie by the same name came out. The song has been covered by everyone from Lady Gaga  to John Lennon, and has been recorded in every genre you can think of in between, both good and bad. My favorite is Tracy Chapman’s version, but none of them can take the place of the original.

I’m unable to hear this song without remembering dancing around to it with my infant daughter in our living room many, many years ago. It means something different to everyone, but this beautiful song by the late, great Ben E. King has its place in history and in our memories. To Mr. King and to his wife of 51 years, Betty (and to my Katie, who will always be the baby to me), I raise my glass, and say thank you.