'Fifth Beatle' Billy Preston Biography/Obituary, Solo Albums Discography, CDs

'Fifth Beatle' Billy Preston Obituary
Written by Paul Rance
Wednesday, 7 June 2006

Born in Houston, Texas, on September 9th, 1946, American keyboard wizard, Billy Preston, had a good case for being called the fifth Beatle. He was best known for playing on Beatles classics 'Something', 'Get Back', 'Let It Be', and 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)', and for performing with the group for the famous London rooftop gig (Preston's favourite music moment), which was The Beatles last ever live performance. He remained close to the band and was a calming influence when the group was imploding. Preston also played on George Harrison's seminal 'All Things Must Pass' album, John Lennon's 'Plastic Ono Band' album, and in Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band. He was also close to guitar legend Eric Clapton, who he toured with, and played on several of his albums. Preston played on several albums by The Rolling Stones, including the classic 'Exile On Main Street', plus he played on Bob Dylan's 'Blood On The Tracks' album, and Aretha Franklin's 'Young, Gifted And Black' album. Latterly, he played on the last album by Ray Charles, The Red Hot Chili Peppers 'Stadium Arcadium' album, and Neil Diamond's album, '12 Songs'. Preston, though, also had solo success with hits in the 1970s, with 'Outa-Space (he won a Best Pop Instrumental Performance Grammy for this 1973 track)' and 'Space Race', and the US number one singles, 'Will It Go Round In Circles (1973)' and 'Nothing From Nothing (1974)'. He co-wrote the Joe Cocker hit 'You Are So Beautiful', and duetted with Syreeta Wright on 'With You I'm Born Again', which reached no. 4 in the US singles chart in 1980.

Billy Preston was a child prodigy, who was playing the piano at the tender age of 3, and at the age of 10 was playing for the legendary gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson. Preston was around the biggest stars in music from an early age. When he was yet to reach his teens he played a very young W.C. Handy in the 1958 film, 'St. Louis Blues', alongside Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Pearl Bailey. In the early 1960s Preston was touring with Little Richard and Ray Charles, and first met The Beatles at Hamburg's Star Club.

One of the most respected musicians of his generation, Billy Preston was a keyboard player par excellence. Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger said of him: "Billy was a fantastic and gifted musician." Stones guitarist Keith Richards added that Preston was "a genius with all the baggage". Elton John said: "He was one of my true inspirations, one of the greatest keyboard players of all time."

Probably, Billy Preston will be best remembered for his performance of 'That's The Way God Planned It', at the 1971 George Harrison-organised 'Concert For Bangladesh'. Preston performed like a man possessed, and his rendition probably did most to get the album a Best Album Grammy award. He upstaged George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan, who all performed at the event. Billy also played at the 2002 'Concert For George' - in memory of George Harrison. Preston would create a little bit of history by being on the first 'Saturday Night Live' in 1975, when he appeared on the legendary American TV show as a musical guest.

Billy Preston died on Tuesday, June 6th, 2006, in Scottsdale, Arizona, aged 59. He had had kidney problems for years, and had been in a coma since November, 2005. Preston had a life blighted by drug and drink problems, and falling foul of the law, but he was the only non-Beatle to be credited on a Beatles single. On 'Get Back', the label read: "The Beatles With Billy Preston". This was something which pleased Preston immensely, and was a fine tribute to his talent from the greatest group of them all.

Billy Preston Solo Albums Discography
(1965) The Most Exciting Organ Ever
(1965) Early Hits Of '65
(1966) The Wildest Organ In Town
(1967) Club Meeting
(1969) That's The Way God Planned It
(1970) Encouraging Words
(1971) I Wrote A Simple Song
(1972) Music Is My life
(1973) Everybody Likes Some Kind Of Music
(1974) Live European Tour 1973
(1974) The Kids And Me
(1975) It's My Pleasure
(1976) Billy Preston
(1977) A Whole New Thing
(1979) Late At Night
(1981) The Way I Am
(1982) Pressin' On
(1984) On The Air
(1986) You Can't Keep A Good Man Down
(1995) Billy's Back

Billy Preston CDs available from Amazon.co.uk - in association with booksmusicfilmstv.com

Billy Preston CDs available from Amazon.com - in association with booksmusicfilmstv.com