Ben E. King celebrated at N.J. funeral

Friends, family and fellow musicians gathered in a New Jersey church on Thursday to pay tribute to Ben E. King.

The Stand By Me singer, who died April 30 of natural causes at age 76, was celebrated and memorialized at Englewood's Community Baptist Church, reports The Record.

More than 600 people gathered for the funeral. Don Gardner, the vocalist-drummer who had hits with Dee Dee Ford in the 1960s, called King a "sweetheart."

A Wednesday wake drew music stars including Darlene Love, Paul Shaffer, Gary "U.S." Bonds and Slash.

"I sing because I'm happy, I sing because Mr. King — Mr. King — you are free!" said Angela Workman, a former backup singer for Ray Charles who belted out gospel classic His Eye Is on the Sparrow at the Thursday funeral.

According to NorthJersey.com, King is survived by his wife, Betty; his mother, Jenny Nelson; his children Terris Cannon, Benjamin King Jr., and Angela Matos; and six grandchildren: Jeniece Cannon, Teavia King, Paige Cannon, Kyesa King, Michael Matos Jr., and Nia Matos.