'Stand by Me' singer Ben E. King dies at 76

Ben E. King, the R&B legend best known for his classic song "Stand By Me," died Thursday. He was 76.

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This year "Stand By Me," the 1961 hit written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, was added to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. It was also recognized as one of the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America. It was one of 12 top 10 hits of his career, according to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Earlier in his career, King was a lead singer and writer for the Drifters, with hits like "Save the Last Dance for Me" and "This Magic Moment." He went solo after a contract dispute.

In addition to his singing career, King ran the Stand By Me Foundation, which assists civic organizations concentrated in education, poverty, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, teen pregnancy and domestic violence.

King was born in North Carolina but moved to Harlem at the age of nine, according to the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Betty, who he married more than 50 years ago.

The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.