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(1946-2006) |
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William
Everett "Billy" Preston (September 9, 1946-June
6, 2006)--Keyboards-- (also known as "The Fifth
Beatle, and as an unofficial member of the Rolling
Stones, 1973-1977, 1997). Billy
Preston was a piano-playing child prodigy; by the
age of sixteen, his resume included session work
with Mahalia Jackson, Nat "King" Cole, Little
Richard and Sam Cooke. He also had his first solo
release, a gospel record called "Sixteen-Year-Old
Soul." He is perhaps best known as a Grammy Award
winner who performed with the Beatles and the
Rolling Stones, adding a touch of American soul to
their British rock and pop. He also wrote "Nothing
From Nothing" and the Joe Cocker hit "You Are So
Beautiful." Billy
Preston joined the Rolling Stones as an unofficial
member of the band, playing keyboard, with he and
Nicky Hopkins as the regular pianists. Preston
played on the Rolling Stones albums Sticky
Fingers, Exile on Main Street, Goat's
Head Soup, It's Only Rock and Roll,
and Black & Blue. He toured with the Stones
as an opening act in 1973, and also joined them on
tour in 1975 and 1976. His important position with
the band is seen by the fact that the Stones had
him play two of his own songs, backed by the band,
in the middle of every concert on this tour.
Preston left the band in 1977, over disagreements
over money. After he left the Stones, he maintained
contact with the individual members of the band,
playing keyboards on several of the Stones' solo
albums. He rejoined the Stones to record with them
on the Bridges to Babylon album in
1997. Most rock
music fans know Billy Preston for his extensive
work recording with the Beatles in the late 1960s.
He is a major contributor to the Beatles albums
Let It Be and Abbey Road, appearing with the
Beatles in the famous film,"Let It Be," in the
famous rooftop concert at Apple Records in
London. He also
recorded and/or performed with Bob Dylan, Eric
Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Sly and the Family Stone,
and many other notable performers. Despite his rock
'n roll lifestyle, he described himself as a deeply
religious man and recorded several well-recieved
gospel albums. He died
June 6, 2006 of kidney failure in Houston, Texas.
His illness was brought on by a lifetime of alcohol
and drug abuse. Billboard
Pop Singles Chart (US) 1969 -
#62 "That's the Way God Planned It" 1972 -
#77 "I Wrote a Simple Song" 1972 - #2
"Outta-Space" (Grammy Award winner) 1972 -
#50 "Slaughter" 1972 -
#62 "That's the Way God Planned It" {re-release}
1973 - #1
"Will It Go Round in Circles" 1973 - #4
"Space Race" 1974 - #1
"Nothing from Nothing" 1974 -
#48 "You're So Unique" 1975 -
#71 "Fancy Lady" 1975 -
#22 "Struttin'" 1978 -
#86 "Get Back" 1980 - #4
"With You I'm Born Again" (duet with Syreeta
Wright) 1980 -
#52 "One More Time For Love" 1980 -
#88 "I'm Never Gonna Say Goodbye" "The History Guy" is a Registered Trademark. |
Citation http://www.worldbiography.net/preston_billy.html
Associates,
Colleagues, &
Connections The
Beatles Bob
Dylan Joe
Cocker Links
and Resources on the
[person] Official
Billy Preston Home
Page Eclectic
Talent Billy Preston Dead at 59
:Genre-bending keyboardist
collaborated with the Beatles,
Stones, Chili
Peppers--Rolling
Stone Magazine article Billy
Preston--Wikipedia
article Billy
Preston
- Filmography, Awards, Biography,
Agent, Discussions, Photos, News
Articles, Fan Sites. Site
Map--revision
in progress |
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