When George Treadwell got fed up with the members of The Drifters in 1958, he fired the whole group and replaced them with The Five Crowns and their lead singer, Ben Nelson. The Drifters gained new life and their first hit single, "There Goes My Baby," was written by Nelson. After a two year association with the Drifters that resulted in a string of hits, Nelson fell into a salary dispute with Treadwell and left the group to start a solo career as Ben E. King. His release of "Spanish Harlem" in 1961 was a top ten hit, and he thought he had another good one with "Stand By Me," but he thought it would do better with The Drifters and offered it to them. It was rejected and King recorded it himself. The result was a #4 hit record and a tune that would prove to be one of the more enduring rock and roll songs. In 1986 it climbed back into the top ten (#9) as it was re-released in association with the movie, "Stand By Me." It has been in the top 40 three other times: Spyder Turner ('67), John Lennon ('75), and Mickey Gilley ('80). The bass intro and the sand paper percussion throughout lend a haunting atmosphere to the song. Kings vocal is great, and the words express an emotional plea for companionship and support -- no wonder this song has never died.