World-famous keyboardist Billy Preston has died. He was born in Houston, and Michael D. Clark provides an informative look at his life and times.
For a gifted, influential musician often tagged "the fifth Beatle," Billy Preston never became a household name like John, Paul, George or Ringo. But the Houston-born rock, soul and gospel phenom was an essential musical mover and shaker whose keyboards and vocals can be heard on some of rock 'n' roll's most enduring recordings....[Ray] Charles reportedly once said, "Billy Preston is the man I would like to carry on the work I have started."
But rock 'n' roll, rather than R&B, beckoned.
Preston got to know the Beatles in the early '60s while he was on tour with Little Richard. He signed with the Fab Four's Apple Records in the mid-'60s.
Though Preston recorded several albums for Apple, he drew more attention for his work with the Beatles as the group's session keyboardist. Preston added keys to The Beatles (better known as "The White Album"), Abbey Road and Let It Be. He performed with the band at its famous final rooftop concert. For his work on the song Get Back, Preston became the only non-Beatle to receive a songwriting credit on the group's singles.
The Beatles work made Preston a go-to keyboard player for the next decade. He appeared on Franklin's Live at Fillmore West and Young, Gifted and Black, Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, Eric Clapton's No Reason To Cry and Luther Vandross' The Night I Fell in Love.
He was also a staple on the Rolling Stones' experimental and highly regarded '70s recordings such as Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main St. and Goat's Head Soup.
And he was active until the end. Read the whole story.
Posted by Alan at June 7, 2006 06:03 AM