Stand by Me

song by Leiber and Stoller

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July 20, 2026

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The song \"Stand by Me\" was a major hit for Ben E. King in 1961. King, a rhythm and blues singer, was also the lead singer for the vocal group the Drifters.1

The songwriting and production duo Leiber and Stoller were instrumental in the success of many songs in the 1950s and 1960s, including \"Stand by Me\". They also produced hits for Elvis Presley and the Coasters.2

\"Stand by Me\" gained renewed popularity when it was featured in the soundtrack of the 1986 film of the same name. In 2014, the song was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural and historical significance.1

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Leiber and Stoller
and the Drifters, including “Stand by Me” and “On Broadway,” were especially influential. In 1964 they established their own label, Red Bird, on which the Shangri-Las recorded. They went on to write for films and theatre; among their last hits, in 1969, was the world-weary “Is That All There…
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and the Drifters, including “Stand by Me” and “On Broadway,” were especially influential. In 1964 they established their own label, Red Bird, on which the Shangri-Las recorded. They went on to write for films and theatre; among their last hits, in 1969, was the world-weary “Is That All There…
Read More