Ben E. King: Voice like a pool of honey beneath a crispy surface

By Gene Seymour

Updated 2024 GMT (0424 HKT) May 1, 2015

Look back at<a href="http://www.cnn.com/specials/world/obit-2015" target="_blank"> people who died</a> in 2015.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Look back at people who died in 2015.
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<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/01/entertainment/natalie-cole-death/index.html" target="_blank">Natalie Cole</a>, daughter of Nat King Cole and winner of six Grammys for her 1991 album "Unforgettable: With Love," died Thursday, December 31, her publicist said. She was 65.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat King Cole and winner of six Grammys for her 1991 album "Unforgettable: With Love," died Thursday, December 31, her publicist said. She was 65.
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<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/01/entertainment/obit-wayne-rogers/index.html" target="_blank">Wayne Rogers</a>, who portrayed wise-cracking Army surgeon "Trapper John" McIntyre in the first three seasons of TV's "M*A*S*H," died Thursday, December 31, his publicist said. He was 82.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Wayne Rogers, who portrayed wise-cracking Army surgeon "Trapper John" McIntyre in the first three seasons of TV's "M*A*S*H," died Thursday, December 31, his publicist said. He was 82.
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Legendary Motorhead frontman <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/28/entertainment/lemmy-motrhead-death/index.html" target="_blank">Lemmy Kilmister</a> died Monday, December 28 after a short battle with cancer, his bandmates announced. He was 70.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Legendary Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister died Monday, December 28 after a short battle with cancer, his bandmates announced. He was 70.
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<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/28/entertainment/haskell-wexler-dead-feat/index.html" target="_blank">Haskell Wexler</a>, the influential cinematographer who won Oscars for his work on 1966's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and 1976's "Bound for Glory," died Sunday, December 27, his son said. He was 93.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Haskell Wexler, the influential cinematographer who won Oscars for his work on 1966's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and 1976's "Bound for Glory," died Sunday, December 27, his son said. He was 93.
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<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/28/entertainment/meadowlark-lemon-obit-globetrotters-feat/index.html" target="_blank">George "Meadowlark" Lemon</a> -- known to many as the "Clown Prince of Basketball" with the Harlem Globetrotters -- died Sunday, December 27. He was 83.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
George "Meadowlark" Lemon -- known to many as the "Clown Prince of Basketball" with the Harlem Globetrotters -- died Sunday, December 27. He was 83.
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Former Major League Baseball outfielder <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/27/us/dave-henderson-dies/index.html" target="_blank">Dave Henderson</a> died Sunday, December 27, not long after having a kidney transplant. He was 57.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Former Major League Baseball outfielder Dave Henderson died Sunday, December 27, not long after having a kidney transplant. He was 57.
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<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/19/living/kurt-masur-philharmonic-conductor-dies-feat/index.html" target="_blank">Kurt Masur</a>, the legendary German music conductor credited with transforming the New York Philharmonic into an orchestra of international renown, died December 19. He was 88.
Photos: People we lost in 2015
Kurt Masur, the legendary German music conductor credited with transforming the New York Philharmonic into an orchestra of international renown, died December 19. He was 88.
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