1. Benjamin Franklin Peay, known professionally as Brook Benton, was an American singer and songwriter whose music transcended rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres in the 1950s and 1960s, with hits such as "It's Just a Matter of Time" and "Endlessly".
Brook Benton's last hit was the 1970 ballad "Rainy Night in Georgia".
Brook Benton began singing gospel music in a Methodist church choir in Lugoff, South Carolina, where his father was choir master.
In 1948, Brook Benton went to New York where he joined The Langfordaires and The Jerusalem Stars before joining The Sandmen.
Brook Benton recorded his first solo, "The Kentuckian Song", the theme from a movie of the same name.
Brook Benton switched to RCA's Vik subsidiary in 1957, where he had a single chart appearance, 1958's "A Million Miles From Nowhere", which peaked at No 82 on US charts.
Brook Benton wrote two songs that charted for other performers, Clyde McPhatter's "A Lover's Question" and Nat King Cole's "Looking Back".
Brook Benton recorded a total of five albums with Mardin, including a gospel album, during his stay at Cotillion.
Brook Benton eventually charted a total of 49 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, with other songs charting on Billboards rhythm and blues, easy listening, and Christmas music charts.
The last album made by Brook Benton was Fools Rush In, which was released posthumously in 2005.
Brook Benton had records released on various other labels, including All-Platinum, Brut, Olde Worlde, Stax and Groove Records.
Brook Benton was survived by his wife, Mary Benton, and six children: Brook Jr.