“Stand By Me" by Ben E. King Limited Edition Poster Print of Original Painting

In 1960, Ben E. King was inspired to update the early 20th-century gospel hymn 'Stand by Me' by Charles Albert Tindley, which was based on Psalm 46, "will not we fear, though the Earth be removed". According to the documentary History of Rock 'n' Roll, King had no intention of recording the song himself and had written it for the Drifters, who passed on recording it. After the 'Spanish Harlem' recording session in 1960, King had some studio time left over. The session's producers, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, asked if he had any more songs. He played it on the piano for them. They liked it and called the studio musicians back in to record it.

In 2015, King's original version was inducted into America's National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, as a "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" record.

My original was painted for Whispering Bob Harris and included Ben E. King's dedication to Bob.