Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and more artists who recorded 'Stand by Me'
John Lennon is one of many artists who have covered Ben E. King's megahit "Stand by Me." Credit: Getty Images
It's hard to believe, but Ben E. King's megahit "Stand by Me" was rejected by George Treadwell, manager of his old doo-wop group, The Drifters.
Twenty-five years later, the song re-entered the charts, thanks to the popularity of the Rob Reiner film "Stand by Me," which is based on the Stephen King novella "The Body." The song cracked the Top 10 in the fall of 1986.
"Stand by Me" was voted as one of the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and was put on the list of "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Just last year, the song was honored by the Songwriters Hall of Fame with its 2012 Towering Song Award.
JIMI HENDRIX
STEPHEN KING
In a strange twist, the bestselling author recorded the song with Warren Zevon for a 1998 charity album, "Stranger Than Fiction."
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS
The animated children's group recorded a high-speed vocal version for the 2007 film "Alvin and the Chipmunks."
MICKEY GILLEY
In 1980, Gilley, cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart, recorded a country version for the John Travolta film "Urban Cowboy" that hit No. 22 on the Billboard charts.
MUHAMMAD ALI
The heavyweight champ, under his birth name, Cassius Clay, recorded the song in 1963 for his vanity album, "I Am the Greatest!"
JOHN LENNON
Lennon covered "Stand by Me" for his 1975 album, "Rock 'n' Roll," just before retiring from the music business. The single hit No. 20 on the charts.
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