Billy Preston
Encyclopedia
William Everett "Billy" Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke
, Ray Charles
and The Beatles
, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race
", "Will It Go Round in Circles
" and "Nothing from Nothing
".
Alongside Tony Sheridan
, Billy Preston was the only other musician to be credited on a Beatles recording after he was credited on the group's number-one hit, "Get Back
", with the record title listed as The Beatles with Billy Preston.
. At the age of three, the family moved to Los Angeles
where Preston began playing piano while sitting on his mother Robbie's lap. Noted as a child prodigy
, by the age of ten, Preston was playing organ onstage backing several gospel singers such as Mahalia Jackson
, James Cleveland
and Andrae Crouch
. At twelve, he appeared in the Nat King Cole
-starring W.C. Handy biopic, St. Louis Blues
, playing Handy at a younger age; a year prior, he appeared on Cole's national TV show singing the Fats Domino
hit, "Blueberry Hill
".
In 1962, he joined Little Richard
's band as an organist and it was while performing in Hamburg
that Preston met The Beatles
. In 1963, he performed organ on Sam Cooke
's Night Beat album and released his first gospel album, 16 Years Soul, that same year. In 1965, he released his secular debut album, The Most Exciting Organ Ever
, and that same year played organ and performed on the rock and roll show, Shindig!
. In 1967, he joined Ray Charles
' band. Following his exposure with Charles, several musicians began asking Preston to come to sessions, most notably The Beatles
, who asked him to contribute to two of their albums, Abbey Road and Let It Be.
." At one point during the Get Back
sessions, John Lennon even proposed the idea of having him as the "Fifth Beatle" (to which Paul countered that it was bad enough with four). Preston first met The Beatles in 1962 while part of Little Richard's touring band, when their manager Brian Epstein
organized a Liverpool show, at which The Beatles opened. The Washington Post explained their subsequent meeting:
Preston played with The Beatles for several of the Get Back sessions, some of the material from which would later be culled to make the film Let it Be
and its companion album, during which he joined the band for its rooftop concert, its final public appearance. "Get Back
", one of the album's singles, was credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston," the only time such a joint credit had been given on an official Beatles-sanctioned release (as distinct from an unsanctioned reissue of some Hamburg-era recordings on which they were the backing group for Tony Sheridan
). The credit was bestowed by The Beatles to reflect the extent of Preston's presence on the track; his electric piano is prominent throughout and he plays an extended solo. Preston also worked (in a more limited role) on the Abbey Road album, contributing to the tracks "I Want You (She's So Heavy)
" and "Something
."
In 1978, he appeared as Sgt. Pepper in Robert Stigwood
's film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
, which was very loosely based on The Beatles' album of the same name
.
label, in 1969, Preston released the album That's the Way God Planned It
and a single of the same name (produced by George Harrison
). His relationship with Harrison continued after the breakup of The Beatles; he was the first artist to record "My Sweet Lord
", in his album Encouraging Words
(Harrison's own version of the single hit number one in the US and the UK and was the first number one by a former Beatle after they disbanded) and he was on several of Harrison's 1970s solo albums. Preston also made notable contributions to The Concert for Bangladesh
, the Harrison-organized charity concert, toured with Harrison on his 1974 tour of North America
and, after Harrison's death, The Concert for George. Preston also worked on solo records by two other ex-Beatles, John Lennon
and Ringo Starr
.
His solo career also peaked at this time, beginning with 1972's "Outa-Space
", an instrumental
track that further popularized the sound of the clavinet
in funk
music. The song reached #2 on the US Hot 100, #1 on the R&B
chart, and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance
. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
by the R.I.A.A. in June 1972.
Over the next two years, he followed up with the #1 hits "Will It Go Round in Circles
" and "Nothing From Nothing
", and the #4 hit "Space Race". All three releases each sold in excess of one million copies. American Bandstand
host and executive producer Dick Clark enjoyed "Space Race" so much that he used the instrumental for the mid-show break for virtually the remainder of its run.
After working with The Beatles, Preston played keyboards for The Rolling Stones
, alongside pianists Nicky Hopkins
and Ian Stewart
. Preston appears on the Stones' albums Sticky Fingers
, Exile on Main Street, Goats Head Soup
, It's Only Rock'n Roll
and Black and Blue
. He toured as a support act on their 1973 European Tour and recorded his live album Live European Tour 1973 in Munich with Mick Taylor
on guitar that same year. In 1974 he composed one of Joe Cocker
's biggest hits, "You Are So Beautiful
". On October 11, 1975, he was the first musical guest on Saturday Night Live
s series premiere episode (along with Janis Ian
). Also in that year, and in 1976, he again accompanied the Stones on vocals and keyboards. This time he played two of his own songs, backed by the Stones, in the middle of every concert. Preston's 1973 Do You Love Me was the basis for the Stones' Melody on their 1976 Black and Blue
album. The Stones and Preston parted company in 1977, mainly due to a row over money. He continued to play on solo records by Stones members and made appearances again on the Stones' 1981 Tattoo You
and 1997 Bridges to Babylon
albums.
Preston's solo career began a decline in 1976. After years with A&M Records
, Preston switched labels, moving to Motown Records
where, in 1980, Preston had a top ten hit duet with Syreeta Wright
with the ballad "With You I'm Born Again
" that reached number four on the charts in the US. When Preston failed to match its success, the musician left the label in 1984 and promptly settled on session work from then on.
after setting fire to his own house in Los Angeles, and he was treated for alcohol
and cocaine
addictions. He also was arrested in 1991 for sexually assaulting a 16 year-old Mexican boy, after picking him up at a gathering point for day laborers. After submitting to a drug test, he tested positive for cocaine. That year, he entered no-contest pleas to the cocaine and assault
charges. He was sentenced to nine months at a drug rehabilitation center and three months of house arrest
.
Preston overcame his problems in the early 1990s, toured with Eric Clapton
, recorded with Gary Walker, one of the vocalists in his Los Angeles based band, and worked with a wide range of other artists. He also toured with Ringo Starr
and appeared on the 1990 live album Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band
. He was also invited to become a member of The Band
in 1991, after the death of their piano player, Stan Szelest. He completed a tour, but his above-mentioned legal problems put an end to the collaboration before they had a chance to record together in the studio.
comedy show Good News
.
While touring and fighting his own health problems, Preston received the news that on 29 November 2001, his old friend George Harrison had died after a long battle with throat cancer
. Preston, among many of Harrison's longtime friends, performed in the 2002 Concert for George
in London, England, to play a tribute song. Preston participated in the concert at the Royal Albert Hall
, and his performance of "My Sweet Lord
" has received critical acclaim. Preston played the Hammond organ
for the show and sang "Isn't It a Pity
" and "My Sweet Lord" plus backing vocals on most of the other songs. Ringo Starr called him one of the greatest Hammond players of all time (in the theatrical version of the concert).
In 2002, he appeared on the Johnny Cash
album American IV: The Man Comes Around
, playing piano on "Personal Jesus" and "Tear Stained Letter".
He toured with The Funk Brothers and Steve Winwood
in Europe in early 2004 and then with his friend Eric Clapton
in Europe and North America.
In 2004, Preston performed as a jazz organist with a solo on Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company
duets album teaming up with Charles and Norah Jones
on the song "Here We Go Again
"
In 2005, he recorded "Go Where No One's Gone Before", the main title song for the anime
series L/R: Licensed by Royalty
.
Preston played clavinet
on the song "Warlocks" for the Red Hot Chili Peppers
album Stadium Arcadium
released in 2006. Although very ill by this point, he jumped out of his bed after hearing a tape of the song given to him by the band, recorded his part, and went back to bed. Preston's final contributions were the gospel
-tinged organ on the Neil Diamond
album 12 Songs
, and his keyboard work on The Road to Escondido
by Eric Clapton
and J. J. Cale, and some of the first tracks on the Reach album by Is'real Benton.
In March 2005, Preston appeared on the American Idol
s fourth season
finale. Playing piano, he performed "With You I'm Born Again" with Vonzell Solomon
, who finished in third place.
Preston made his last public appearance in late 2005 at the Los Angeles press junket for the re-release of the Concert for Bangla Desh movie. He was in good spirits and talked to many in the press. Afterwards he played a three song set of "Give Me Love", "My Sweet Lord" and "Isn't It a Pity", featuring Dhani Harrison
on guitar and Ringo Starr on drums for the final song only.
There still remains an unreleased CD of Beatles covers that he had been working on for several years before his death. Many tracks from this CD were previewed by him at The Fest for Beatles Fans shows in the years before his death.
Jazz musician Miles Davis
was heavily influenced by Preston's music during his funk rock
period of the early 1970s. The 1972 album Get Up With It
features a track called "Billy Preston" in his honor.
. He received a kidney transplant in 2002, but his health continued to deteriorate. He died on June 6, 2006 in Scottsdale, Arizona
, of complications of malignant hypertension
that resulted in kidney failure and other complications. He had voluntarily entered a drug rehabilitation clinic in Malibu, CA, at the suggestion of guitarist Is'real Benton and suffered pericarditis
there, leading to respiratory failure that left him in a coma from November 21, 2005. His funeral was held on June 20 at the Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, California
, where his remains were interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery
, Inglewood, California
.
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
, Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
and The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race
Space Race
The Space Race was a mid-to-late 20th century competition between the Soviet Union and the United States for supremacy in space exploration. Between 1957 and 1975, Cold War rivalry between the two nations focused on attaining firsts in space exploration, which were seen as necessary for national...
", "Will It Go Round in Circles
Will It Go Round in Circles
"Will It Go Round in Circles" is a song written by Bruce Fisher and Billy Preston, and recorded by Preston for his 1972 album Music Is My Life...
" and "Nothing from Nothing
Nothing from Nothing (Billy Preston song)
"Nothing From Nothing" was a song written by Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher. It was performed by keyboardist/vocalist Billy Preston for his 1974 album The Kids and Me...
".
Alongside Tony Sheridan
Tony Sheridan
Tony Sheridan , is an English rock and roll singer-songwriter and guitarist...
, Billy Preston was the only other musician to be credited on a Beatles recording after he was credited on the group's number-one hit, "Get Back
Get Back
"Get Back" is a song by The Beatles, composed by Paul McCartney and frequently attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The song was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969, and credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston." A different mix of the song later became the closing track of Let It Be ,...
", with the record title listed as The Beatles with Billy Preston.
Early life and career
William Everett Preston was born on September 2, 1946 in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. At the age of three, the family moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where Preston began playing piano while sitting on his mother Robbie's lap. Noted as a child prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
, by the age of ten, Preston was playing organ onstage backing several gospel singers such as Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
, James Cleveland
James Cleveland
The Reverend Dr. James Cleveland was a gospel singer, arranger, composer and, most significantly, the driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound, bringing the stylistic daring of hard gospel and jazz and pop music influences to arrangements for mass choirs...
and Andrae Crouch
Andrae Crouch
Andraé Crouch is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, record producer, and pastor.-Early years:Born Andraé Edward Crouch in San Francisco, California....
. At twelve, he appeared in the Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
-starring W.C. Handy biopic, St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
, playing Handy at a younger age; a year prior, he appeared on Cole's national TV show singing the Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino, Jr. is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Creole was his first language....
hit, "Blueberry Hill
Blueberry Hill (song)
"Blueberry Hill" is a popular song published in 1940 best remembered for its 1950s rock n' roll version by Fats Domino. The music was written by Vincent Rose, the lyrics by Al Lewis. It was recorded six times in 1940...
".
In 1962, he joined Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
's band as an organist and it was while performing in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
that Preston met The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. In 1963, he performed organ on Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
's Night Beat album and released his first gospel album, 16 Years Soul, that same year. In 1965, he released his secular debut album, The Most Exciting Organ Ever
The Most Exciting Organ Ever
The Most Exciting Organ Ever is the first album by Billy Preston. The fully instrumental album was released in 1965, several weeks before Preston's nineteenth birthday...
, and that same year played organ and performed on the rock and roll show, Shindig!
Shindig!
Shindig! was an American musical variety series which aired on ABC from September 16, 1964 to January 8, 1966. The show was hosted by Jimmy O'Neill, a disc jockey in Los Angeles at the time who also created the show along with his wife Sharon Sheeley and production executive Art Stolnitz....
. In 1967, he joined Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
' band. Following his exposure with Charles, several musicians began asking Preston to come to sessions, most notably The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, who asked him to contribute to two of their albums, Abbey Road and Let It Be.
Relationship with The Beatles
Preston is one of several people sometimes referred to by outsiders as a "Fifth BeatleFifth Beatle
The Fifth Beatle is an informal title that various commentators in the press and entertainment industry have applied to persons who were at one point a member of The Beatles, or who had a strong association with the "Fab Four" during the group's existence...
." At one point during the Get Back
Get Back
"Get Back" is a song by The Beatles, composed by Paul McCartney and frequently attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The song was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969, and credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston." A different mix of the song later became the closing track of Let It Be ,...
sessions, John Lennon even proposed the idea of having him as the "Fifth Beatle" (to which Paul countered that it was bad enough with four). Preston first met The Beatles in 1962 while part of Little Richard's touring band, when their manager Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein
Brian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
organized a Liverpool show, at which The Beatles opened. The Washington Post explained their subsequent meeting:
Preston played with The Beatles for several of the Get Back sessions, some of the material from which would later be culled to make the film Let it Be
Let It Be (film)
Let It Be is a 1970 documentary film about The Beatles rehearsing and recording songs for the album Let It Be in January 1969. The film features an unannounced rooftop concert by the group, their last performance in public...
and its companion album, during which he joined the band for its rooftop concert, its final public appearance. "Get Back
Get Back
"Get Back" is a song by The Beatles, composed by Paul McCartney and frequently attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The song was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969, and credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston." A different mix of the song later became the closing track of Let It Be ,...
", one of the album's singles, was credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston," the only time such a joint credit had been given on an official Beatles-sanctioned release (as distinct from an unsanctioned reissue of some Hamburg-era recordings on which they were the backing group for Tony Sheridan
Tony Sheridan
Tony Sheridan , is an English rock and roll singer-songwriter and guitarist...
). The credit was bestowed by The Beatles to reflect the extent of Preston's presence on the track; his electric piano is prominent throughout and he plays an extended solo. Preston also worked (in a more limited role) on the Abbey Road album, contributing to the tracks "I Want You (She's So Heavy)
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
"I Want You " is a song by The Beatles, from their album Abbey Road. It was written by John Lennon, although credited to Lennon–McCartney....
" and "Something
Something
"Something" is a song by The Beatles, written by lead guitarist George Harrison in 1969. It was featured on the album Abbey Road, and was also the first song written by Harrison to appear on the A-side of a Beatles' single...
."
In 1978, he appeared as Sgt. Pepper in Robert Stigwood
Robert Stigwood
Robert Stigwood is an impresario and entertainment entrepreneur who relocated to England in 1954...
's film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is a 1978 American musical film. Its soundtrack, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, features new versions of songs originally written and performed by The Beatles. The film draws primarily from two of their albums, 1967's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club...
, which was very loosely based on The Beatles' album of the same name
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles, released on 1 June 1967 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin...
.
Post-Beatles solo career
Signed to The Beatles' Apple RecordsApple Records
Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston...
label, in 1969, Preston released the album That's the Way God Planned It
That's the Way God Planned It
That's The Way God Planned It is the fourth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1969 on Apple Records. George Harrison, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and other guests appear on the album.- 1968 liner notes :...
and a single of the same name (produced by George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
). His relationship with Harrison continued after the breakup of The Beatles; he was the first artist to record "My Sweet Lord
My Sweet Lord
"My Sweet Lord" is a song by former Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison from his UK number one hit triple album All Things Must Pass. The song was written in praise of the Hindu god Krishna...
", in his album Encouraging Words
Encouraging Words
Encouraging Words is the fifth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1970. Preston worked closely with George Harrison on the album, who contributed guitar, co-produced, co-wrote a song with Preston, and contributed two of his own songs which were yet to be released, as All Things Must Pass...
(Harrison's own version of the single hit number one in the US and the UK and was the first number one by a former Beatle after they disbanded) and he was on several of Harrison's 1970s solo albums. Preston also made notable contributions to The Concert for Bangladesh
The Concert for Bangladesh
The Concert for Bangladesh was the name for two benefit concerts organised by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, held at noon and at 7 PM on August 1, 1971, playing to a total of 40,000 people at Madison Square Garden in New York City...
, the Harrison-organized charity concert, toured with Harrison on his 1974 tour of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and, after Harrison's death, The Concert for George. Preston also worked on solo records by two other ex-Beatles, John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
.
His solo career also peaked at this time, beginning with 1972's "Outa-Space
Outa-Space
"Outa-Space" is a Funk/R&B instrumental recorded by Billy Preston that originally appeared on his 1971 A&M Records-debut album, "I Wrote a Simple Song". Preston created the sound of "Outa-Space" by running the sound from a clavinet through a wah wah pedal and then improvising a groove while calling...
", an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
track that further popularized the sound of the clavinet
Clavinet
A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
in funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
music. The song reached #2 on the US Hot 100, #1 on the R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart, and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance was awarded between 1969 and 2011.*In 1969 it was awarded as Best Contemporary-Pop Performance, Instrumental*From 1970 to 1971 it was awarded as Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance...
. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the R.I.A.A. in June 1972.
Over the next two years, he followed up with the #1 hits "Will It Go Round in Circles
Will It Go Round in Circles
"Will It Go Round in Circles" is a song written by Bruce Fisher and Billy Preston, and recorded by Preston for his 1972 album Music Is My Life...
" and "Nothing From Nothing
Nothing from Nothing (Billy Preston song)
"Nothing From Nothing" was a song written by Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher. It was performed by keyboardist/vocalist Billy Preston for his 1974 album The Kids and Me...
", and the #4 hit "Space Race". All three releases each sold in excess of one million copies. American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
host and executive producer Dick Clark enjoyed "Space Race" so much that he used the instrumental for the mid-show break for virtually the remainder of its run.
After working with The Beatles, Preston played keyboards for The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, alongside pianists Nicky Hopkins
Nicky Hopkins
Nicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
and Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart (musician)
Ian Andrew Robert Stewart was a Scottish keyboardist, co-founder of The Rolling Stones and inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
. Preston appears on the Stones' albums Sticky Fingers
Sticky Fingers
-Personnel:The Rolling Stones*Mick Jagger – lead vocals, acoustic guitar on "Dead Flowers", electric guitar on "Sway", percussion*Keith Richards – electric guitar, six & twelve string acoustic guitar, backing vocals...
, Exile on Main Street, Goats Head Soup
Goats Head Soup
Goats Head Soup is the 11th British and 13th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1973. It featured the song "Angie", which went to #1 as a single in the US and UK.-Recording:...
, It's Only Rock'n Roll
It's Only Rock'n Roll
It's Only Rock 'n Roll is the 12th British and 14th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1974. It would be the last Rolling Stones album for guitarist Mick Taylor and the songwriting and recording of the album's title track would have a connection to Taylor's eventual...
and Black and Blue
Black and Blue
Black and Blue is the 13th British and 15th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1976. It was the band's first studio album released with Ronnie Wood as the replacement for Mick Taylor...
. He toured as a support act on their 1973 European Tour and recorded his live album Live European Tour 1973 in Munich with Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
on guitar that same year. In 1974 he composed one of Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
's biggest hits, "You Are So Beautiful
You Are So Beautiful
"You Are So Beautiful" is a song written by Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher and Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys. It was first recorded by Preston and made popular in a version by Joe Cocker....
". On October 11, 1975, he was the first musical guest on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
s series premiere episode (along with Janis Ian
Janis Ian
Janis Ian is an American songwriter, singer, musician, columnist, and science fiction author. Ian first entered the folk music scene while still a teenager in the mid-sixties; most active musically in that decade and the 1970s, she has continued recording into the 21st century...
). Also in that year, and in 1976, he again accompanied the Stones on vocals and keyboards. This time he played two of his own songs, backed by the Stones, in the middle of every concert. Preston's 1973 Do You Love Me was the basis for the Stones' Melody on their 1976 Black and Blue
Black and Blue
Black and Blue is the 13th British and 15th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1976. It was the band's first studio album released with Ronnie Wood as the replacement for Mick Taylor...
album. The Stones and Preston parted company in 1977, mainly due to a row over money. He continued to play on solo records by Stones members and made appearances again on the Stones' 1981 Tattoo You
Tattoo You
Tattoo You is the 16th British and 18th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1981. The follow-up to Emotional Rescue, it proved to be a big critical and commercial success...
and 1997 Bridges to Babylon
Bridges to Babylon
Bridges to Babylon is a studio album by British rock band The Rolling Stones, released by Virgin Records on 29 September 1997. It would prove to be the band's final studio album of the 1990s and their last full-length release of new songs until 2005's A Bigger Bang...
albums.
Preston's solo career began a decline in 1976. After years with A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, Preston switched labels, moving to Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
where, in 1980, Preston had a top ten hit duet with Syreeta Wright
Syreeta Wright
Syreeta Wright , who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was a Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter most notably known for her work with Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston.-Early life and career:...
with the ballad "With You I'm Born Again
With You I'm Born Again
"With You I'm Born Again" is a 1979 duet single by Motown recording artists Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright, released as a single from the soundtrack of the motion picture, Fast Break. The song was credited as "Billy Preston and Syreeta" and written by Carol Connors & David Shire...
" that reached number four on the charts in the US. When Preston failed to match its success, the musician left the label in 1984 and promptly settled on session work from then on.
Legal Troubles
In 1991 he was arrested and convicted for insurance fraudInsurance fraud
Insurance fraud is any act committed with the intent to fraudulently obtain payment from an insurer.Insurance fraud has existed ever since the beginning of insurance as a commercial enterprise. Fraudulent claims account for a significant portion of all claims received by insurers, and cost billions...
after setting fire to his own house in Los Angeles, and he was treated for alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
and cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
addictions. He also was arrested in 1991 for sexually assaulting a 16 year-old Mexican boy, after picking him up at a gathering point for day laborers. After submitting to a drug test, he tested positive for cocaine. That year, he entered no-contest pleas to the cocaine and assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
charges. He was sentenced to nine months at a drug rehabilitation center and three months of house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
.
Preston overcame his problems in the early 1990s, toured with Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, recorded with Gary Walker, one of the vocalists in his Los Angeles based band, and worked with a wide range of other artists. He also toured with Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
and appeared on the 1990 live album Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band
This article is about the album. For the band, go to Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band is Ringo Starr's first official live album, recorded in 1989 during his successful comeback tour and released in 1990...
. He was also invited to become a member of The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
in 1991, after the death of their piano player, Stan Szelest. He completed a tour, but his above-mentioned legal problems put an end to the collaboration before they had a chance to record together in the studio.
Later Work
In 1997-1998, Billy Preston played organ during the choir numbers on the UPNUPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
comedy show Good News
Good News (TV series)
Good News is an American sitcom that aired on UPN from 1997 to 1998. The series is a spin-off of the UPN series Sparks.-Synopsis:...
.
While touring and fighting his own health problems, Preston received the news that on 29 November 2001, his old friend George Harrison had died after a long battle with throat cancer
Head and neck cancer
Head and neck cancer refers to a group of biologically similar cancers that start in the upper aerodigestive tract, including the lip, oral cavity , nasal cavity , paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx. 90% of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas , originating from the mucosal lining...
. Preston, among many of Harrison's longtime friends, performed in the 2002 Concert for George
Concert for George
The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 as a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his death. The event was organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne...
in London, England, to play a tribute song. Preston participated in the concert at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, and his performance of "My Sweet Lord
My Sweet Lord
"My Sweet Lord" is a song by former Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison from his UK number one hit triple album All Things Must Pass. The song was written in praise of the Hindu god Krishna...
" has received critical acclaim. Preston played the Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
for the show and sang "Isn't It a Pity
Isn't It a Pity
"Isn't It a Pity" is a song by George Harrison from his 1970 solo album All Things Must Pass. It was written in 1966 but was rejected by John Lennon. It was released as the B-side of "My Sweet Lord" in the United States on November 23, 1970....
" and "My Sweet Lord" plus backing vocals on most of the other songs. Ringo Starr called him one of the greatest Hammond players of all time (in the theatrical version of the concert).
In 2002, he appeared on the Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
album American IV: The Man Comes Around
American IV: The Man Comes Around
American IV: The Man Comes Around is the fourth album in the American series by Johnny Cash, released in 2002. The majority of songs are covers which Cash performs in his own spare style, with help from producer Rick Rubin...
, playing piano on "Personal Jesus" and "Tear Stained Letter".
He toured with The Funk Brothers and Steve Winwood
Steve Winwood
Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
in Europe in early 2004 and then with his friend Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
in Europe and North America.
In 2004, Preston performed as a jazz organist with a solo on Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company
Genius Loves Company
Genius Loves Company is the final studio album by rhythm and blues and soul musician Ray Charles, posthumously released August 31, 2004 on Concord Records. Recording sessions for the album took place between June 2003 and March 2004...
duets album teaming up with Charles and Norah Jones
Norah Jones
Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
on the song "Here We Go Again
Here We Go Again (Ray Charles song)
"Here We Go Again" is a country music standard written by Don Lanier and Red Steagall that first became notable as a rhythm and blues single by Ray Charles from his 1967 album Ray Charles Invites You to Listen. Its most notable cover version is the rhythm and blues music duet by Charles and Norah...
"
In 2005, he recorded "Go Where No One's Gone Before", the main title song for the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series L/R: Licensed by Royalty
L/R: Licensed by Royalty
L/R: Licensed by Royalty is a Japanese anime television series created by Itsuro Kawasaki with the written screenplay by Kazuki Matsui for TNK....
.
Preston played clavinet
Clavinet
A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
on the song "Warlocks" for the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
album Stadium Arcadium
Stadium Arcadium
Stadium Arcadium is the ninth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. The album was released on May 9, 2006, on Warner Bros. Records. The album produced five singles: "Dani California", "Tell Me Baby", "Snow ", "Desecration Smile", and "Hump de Bump"...
released in 2006. Although very ill by this point, he jumped out of his bed after hearing a tape of the song given to him by the band, recorded his part, and went back to bed. Preston's final contributions were the gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
-tinged organ on the Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
album 12 Songs
12 Songs (Neil Diamond album)
12 Songs is a 2005 album by Neil Diamond. It was his first album of all-original, all-new material since 2001's Three Chord Opera. It was produced by Rick Rubin and is often erroneously cited as the first Diamond album since the Bang Records era to feature the artist playing guitar.The working...
, and his keyboard work on The Road to Escondido
The Road to Escondido
The Road to Escondido is an album by J. J. Cale and Eric Clapton. It was released on November 7, 2006. Contained on this album are the final recordings of Billy Preston, to whom the album is dedicated....
by Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
and J. J. Cale, and some of the first tracks on the Reach album by Is'real Benton.
In March 2005, Preston appeared on the American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
s fourth season
American Idol (Season 4)
The fourth season of American Idol premiered on January 18, 2005 and continued until May 25, 2005. It was hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell also returned to judge. It was won by Carrie Underwood, who has gone on to become a five-time Grammy-winning country megastar...
finale. Playing piano, he performed "With You I'm Born Again" with Vonzell Solomon
Vonzell Solomon
Vonzell Monique Solomon , nicknamed Baby V, is an American singer and aspiring actress who finished in third place in the fourth season of the televised singing competition American Idol. She also appeared in the independent movie Still Green.-Biography:Born in Baxley, Georgia, Solomon's family...
, who finished in third place.
Preston made his last public appearance in late 2005 at the Los Angeles press junket for the re-release of the Concert for Bangla Desh movie. He was in good spirits and talked to many in the press. Afterwards he played a three song set of "Give Me Love", "My Sweet Lord" and "Isn't It a Pity", featuring Dhani Harrison
Dhani Harrison
Dhani Harrison is an English musician and the son of George Harrison of The Beatles and Olivia Harrison. Harrison debuted as a professional musician when completing his father's final album Brainwashed after George Harrison's death in November 2001...
on guitar and Ringo Starr on drums for the final song only.
There still remains an unreleased CD of Beatles covers that he had been working on for several years before his death. Many tracks from this CD were previewed by him at The Fest for Beatles Fans shows in the years before his death.
Jazz musician Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
was heavily influenced by Preston's music during his funk rock
Funk rock
Funk rock is a music genre that fuses funk and rock elements. Its earliest incarnation was heard in the late 1960s through the mid-1970s by acts such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience , Eric Burdon and War, Trapeze, Parliament-Funkadelic, Betty Davis and Mother's Finest. The 1990s were known for acts...
period of the early 1970s. The 1972 album Get Up With It
Get Up with It
Get Up with It is an album collecting tracks recorded between 1970 and 1974 by Miles Davis. Released on November 22, 1974 as a double LP, it was Davis' last studio album before five years of retirement from music....
features a track called "Billy Preston" in his honor.
Death
Preston had battled kidney disease in his later years, brought on by his hypertensionHypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
. He received a kidney transplant in 2002, but his health continued to deteriorate. He died on June 6, 2006 in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, of complications of malignant hypertension
Malignant hypertension
Malignant hypertension or hypertensive emergency is severe hypertension with acute impairment of an organ system and the possibility of irreversible organ-damage...
that resulted in kidney failure and other complications. He had voluntarily entered a drug rehabilitation clinic in Malibu, CA, at the suggestion of guitarist Is'real Benton and suffered pericarditis
Pericarditis
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium . A characteristic chest pain is often present.The causes of pericarditis are varied, including viral infections of the pericardium, idiopathic causes, uremic pericarditis, bacterial infections of the precardium Pericarditis is an inflammation of...
there, leading to respiratory failure that left him in a coma from November 21, 2005. His funeral was held on June 20 at the Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
, where his remains were interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery was founded in 1905 in Inglewood, California. A number of notable people, including entertainment and sports personalities, have been interred or entombed here.-List of notable and celebrity interments at Inglewood Park:...
, Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
.
Albums
- (1965) The Most Exciting Organ EverThe Most Exciting Organ EverThe Most Exciting Organ Ever is the first album by Billy Preston. The fully instrumental album was released in 1965, several weeks before Preston's nineteenth birthday...
- (1965) Early Hits of '65Early Hits of '65Early Hits of'65 is a compilation album by Billy Preston, released in 1965, who recompiled singles and hits from this year to play with soul arrangements...
- (1966) Wildest Organ in Town!
- (1967) Club MeetingClub MeetingClub Meeting is the third studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1967. Basically, it is a continuation of The Wildest Organ in Town!.In 2004, The Wildest Organ in Town! and Club Meeting were released together.-Track listing:...
- (1969) That's The Way God Planned ItThat's the Way God Planned ItThat's The Way God Planned It is the fourth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1969 on Apple Records. George Harrison, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and other guests appear on the album.- 1968 liner notes :...
- (1970) Encouraging WordsEncouraging WordsEncouraging Words is the fifth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1970. Preston worked closely with George Harrison on the album, who contributed guitar, co-produced, co-wrote a song with Preston, and contributed two of his own songs which were yet to be released, as All Things Must Pass...
- (1971) I Wrote a Simple SongI Wrote a Simple SongThis album continued Preston's inclusion of gospel-themed songs which had started with the 1967 album Club Meeting. Preston's friend George Harrison provided slide guitar accompaniment on the title track....
- (1972) Music Is My LifeMusic Is My lifeMusic Is My Life is the seventh studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1972. The album contains Preston's first #1 single, "Will It Go Round in Circles", which would become one of Preston's most well known songs...
- (1973) Everybody Likes Some Kind of MusicEverybody Likes Some Kind of MusicThe album includes the instrumental "Space Race", which was released as a single and was a sequel of sorts to Preston's 1971 hit "Outa-Space". The instrumental proved popular enough that the musical variety show American Bandstand used it as the song for its mid-broadcast break from the mid 1970s...
- (1974) Live European Tour 1973 featuring Mick TaylorMick TaylorMichael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
on guitar (CD release A&M, 2002) - (1974) The Kids & Me
- (1975) It's My PleasureIt's My PleasureIt's My Pleasure is the tenth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1975. This album marked the modernisation of Preston's music, placing a heavier emphasis on synthesizers. It also marked his first collaborations with singer Syreeta Wright who sings on one track...
- (1976) Billy PrestonBilly Preston (album)Billy Preston is the eleventh studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1976. The title song is a remake of the 1969 original from That's the Way God Planned It.-Track listing:...
- (1977) A Whole New ThingA Whole New Thing (Billy Preston album)A Whole New Thing is the twelfth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1977.-Track listing:# "A Whole New Thing" – 3:35# "Disco Dancin'" – 3:30...
- (1979) Late At NightLate at NightLate at Night is the thirteenth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1979.-Track listing:#"Give It Up, Hot" – 5:59#"Late At Night" – 4:49...
- (1981) Billy Preston & Syreeta (with Syreeta WrightSyreeta WrightSyreeta Wright , who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was a Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter most notably known for her work with Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston.-Early life and career:...
) - (1981) The Way I AmThe Way I Am (Billy Preston album)The Way I Am is the fourteenth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1981.-Track listing:#"Hope" – 3:19#"Good Life Boogie" – 4:17#"Keep On Truckin" – 4:25...
- (1982) Pressin' OnPressin' On-Track listing:#"Pressin' On"#"I'd Like To Go Back Home Again"#"Loving You Is Easy 'Cause You're Beautiful"#"Turn It Out"#"I'm Never Gonna Say Goodbye" #"Thanks But No Thanks"...
- (1984) On the AirOn The Air (album)On the Air is the sixteenth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1984. This album marks the return of Preston to music after his problems with cocaine and alcohol.-Track listing:#"And Dance [Extended]" – 6:01...
- (1986) You Can't Keep a Good Man Down
- (2001) You and I (featuring the Italian band 'Novecento')
Gospel albums
- (1962) Sixteen Years Old Soul
- (1965) Hymns Speak from the Organ
- (1973) Gospel In My Soul (Re-edition of Hymns Speak from the organ)
- (1978) Behold!
- (1980) Universal Love
- (1994) Ministry of Music
- (1995) Minister of Music
- (1996) Words and Music
- (2001) Music From My Heart
Singles
- 1969: "That's the Way God Planned It" - US Pop #62, UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#11 - 1971: "My Sweet LordMy Sweet Lord"My Sweet Lord" is a song by former Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison from his UK number one hit triple album All Things Must Pass. The song was written in praise of the Hindu god Krishna...
" - US Pop #90, US R&B #23 - 1972: "I Wrote a Simple Song" - US Pop #77
- 1972: "Outa-SpaceOuta-Space"Outa-Space" is a Funk/R&B instrumental recorded by Billy Preston that originally appeared on his 1971 A&M Records-debut album, "I Wrote a Simple Song". Preston created the sound of "Outa-Space" by running the sound from a clavinet through a wah wah pedal and then improvising a groove while calling...
" - US Pop #2, US R&B #1, UK #44 - 1972: "That's the Way God Planned It" (re-release) - US Pop #65
- 1972: "Slaughter" - US Pop #50, US R&B #17
- 1973: "Will It Go Round in CirclesWill It Go Round in Circles"Will It Go Round in Circles" is a song written by Bruce Fisher and Billy Preston, and recorded by Preston for his 1972 album Music Is My Life...
" - US Pop #1, US R&B #10 - 1973: "How Long Has The Train Been Gone"
- 1973: "Space RaceSpace Race (song)"Space Race" is an instrumental track by Billy Preston, released as a single in 1973. The single hit number one on the R&B chart for one week and number four on the Pop Singles chart...
" - US Pop #4, US R&B #1 - 1974: "You're So Unique" - US Pop #48, US R&B #11
- 1974: "Nothing from NothingNothing from Nothing (Billy Preston song)"Nothing From Nothing" was a song written by Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher. It was performed by keyboardist/vocalist Billy Preston for his 1974 album The Kids and Me...
" US Pop #1, US R&B #8 - 1974" "Struttin'" - US Pop #22, US R&B #11
- 1975: "Fancy Lady" - US Pop #71, US R&B #23
- 1977: "Wide Stride" - US R&B #33
- 1978: "Get Back" - US Pop #86
- 1979: "With You I'm Born AgainWith You I'm Born Again"With You I'm Born Again" is a 1979 duet single by Motown recording artists Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright, released as a single from the soundtrack of the motion picture, Fast Break. The song was credited as "Billy Preston and Syreeta" and written by Carol Connors & David Shire...
" (with Syreeta WrightSyreeta WrightSyreeta Wright , who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was a Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter most notably known for her work with Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston.-Early life and career:...
) - US Pop #4, UK #2 - 1980: "It Will Come in Time" (with Syreeta Wright) - UK #47
- 1980: "One More Time for Love" (with Syreeta Wright) - US Pop #52
- 1982: "I'm Never Gonna Say Goodbye" - US Pop #88
- 1986: "So Good, So Fine" (with Ann-Louise HansonAnn-Louise HansonAnn-Louise Hanson is a Swedish singer and has been involved in the music industry for over 40 years.Many of her solo recordings from the 1960s feature Bruno Glenmarks Orkester and, following their marriage, Ann-Louise and Bruno Glenmark formed the group Glenmarks with Bruno's niece Karin and...
) - 2003: "Go Where No One's Gone Before"
As a guest/session performer
- (1963) Night Beat (Sam CookeSam CookeSamuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
) - (1969) "Get BackGet Back"Get Back" is a song by The Beatles, composed by Paul McCartney and frequently attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The song was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969, and credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston." A different mix of the song later became the closing track of Let It Be ,...
" and "Don't Let Me DownDon't Let Me Down (The Beatles song)"Don't Let Me Down" is a song by The Beatles , recorded in 1969 during the Get Back sessions.-Composition:...
" (The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
) - (1969) Abbey Road (The Beatles)
- (1970) Let It Be (The Beatles)
- (1970) All Things Must PassAll Things Must PassAll Things Must Pass is a triple album by George Harrison, recorded and released in 1970. The original vinyl release featured two LPs of rock songs as well as Apple Jam, a third LP of informal jams...
(George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
) - (1970) John Lennon/Plastic Ono BandJohn Lennon/Plastic Ono BandJohn Lennon/Plastic Ono Band was received with high critical praise upon release. Critic Greil Marcus remarked, "John's singing in the last verse of 'God' may be the finest in all of rock." In early 1971, the album reached number eight on the UK and went to number six in the US, spending eighteen...
(John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
) - piano on "God" - (1971) Sticky FingersSticky Fingers-Personnel:The Rolling Stones*Mick Jagger – lead vocals, acoustic guitar on "Dead Flowers", electric guitar on "Sway", percussion*Keith Richards – electric guitar, six & twelve string acoustic guitar, backing vocals...
(Rolling Stones) - (1971) The Concert for Bangla DeshThe Concert for Bangla DeshThe Concert for Bangladesh is a live triple album and double DVD by George Harrison and celebrity friends performed in aid of the homeless Bengali refugees of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War...
(George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
and Friends) - (1971) There's a Riot Goin' OnThere's a Riot Goin' OnThere's a Riot Goin' On is the fifth studio album by American funk and soul band Sly & the Family Stone, released November 20, 1971 on Epic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place primarily throughout 1970 to 1971 at Record Plant Studios in Sausalito, California...
(Sly & the Family StoneSly & the Family StoneSly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music...
) - (1971) Live at Fillmore West (King CurtisKing CurtisCurtis Ousley , who performed under the stage name King Curtis, was an American saxophone virtuoso known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, funk and soul jazz. Variously a bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musical director and record producer...
& Aretha Franklin) - (1971) Barbra Joan StreisandBarbra Joan Streisand (album)Barbra Joan Streisand is an album by Barbra Streisand, released in August, 1971 on Columbia Records.- Chart and sale :The album reached #11 on Billboard's Pop Albums Chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA.-Track listing:Side One:...
- Keyboards and Drums - (1972) Exile on Main Street (Rolling Stones)
- (1972) Wind of ChangeWind of Change (album)Wind of Change is the first solo album of Peter Frampton. It was released in 1972. This album features appearances by Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, and Klaus Voorman.- Background :Frampton decided to remain with Humble Pie's U.S...
(Peter FramptonPeter FramptonPeter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
) - Plays piano, keyboards, harpsichord, accordion - (1973) RingoRingo (album)Ringo is the third album by Ringo Starr, released in 1973 on Apple Records. It peaked at #7 on the UK Albums Chart and #2 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. In Canada, it reached #1 on the RPM national albums chart...
(Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
) - Organ on "I'm The Greatest" and "Oh My My" - (1973) Goats Head SoupGoats Head SoupGoats Head Soup is the 11th British and 13th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1973. It featured the song "Angie", which went to #1 as a single in the US and UK.-Recording:...
(Rolling Stones) - (1974) Dark Horse (George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
) - Electric piano - (1974) Goodnight ViennaGoodnight ViennaGoodnight Vienna is the fourth album by Ringo Starr. It was recorded in the summer of 1974 in Los Angeles, and released later that year. Goodnight Vienna followed the commercially successful predecessor Ringo, and Starr used many of the same players, including Billy Preston, Klaus Voormann, Robbie...
(Ringo Starr) - clavinet on the title track, electric piano on "Only You (And You Alone)Only You (And You Alone)"Only You " is a pop song composed by Buck Ram. It was recorded most successfully by The Platters, with lead vocals by Tony Williams, in 1955....
" - (1974) It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (Rolling Stones)
- (1975) "You Are So BeautifulYou Are So Beautiful"You Are So Beautiful" is a song written by Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher and Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys. It was first recorded by Preston and made popular in a version by Joe Cocker....
" (Joe CockerJoe CockerJohn Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
) - (1975) Extra Texture (Read All About It)Extra Texture (Read All About It)Extra Texture is an album by George Harrison which was released in 1975. Following the Dark Horse debacle, Extra Texture was Harrison's last album under his contract with Apple Records and EMI, all set to embark on his own Dark Horse Records imprint, initially distributed by A&M Records.Once...
(George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
) - Electric piano on "His Name Is Legs (Ladies And Gentlemen)" - (1976) Thirty Three & 1/3Thirty Three & 1/3Thirty Three & 1/3 is an album by George Harrison released in 1976. As his first release on his Dark Horse Records label, Thirty Three & 1/3 was beset with misfortune during its production, yet Harrison still managed to deliver one of his most celebrated albums.-Background:After satisfying his EMI...
(George Harrison) - (1976) Black and BlueBlack and BlueBlack and Blue is the 13th British and 15th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1976. It was the band's first studio album released with Ronnie Wood as the replacement for Mick Taylor...
(Rolling Stones) - (1976) Love You LiveLove You LiveLove You Live is a double live album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1977. It is drawn from Tour of the Americas shows in the US in the summer of 1975, Tour of Europe shows in 1976 and performances from the infamous El Mocambo nightclub concert venue in Toronto in 1977...
(Rolling Stones) - (1978) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is a 1978 American musical film. Its soundtrack, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, features new versions of songs originally written and performed by The Beatles. The film draws primarily from two of their albums, 1967's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club...
- Also acted the part "Sgt. Pepper" in the film - (1981) Tattoo YouTattoo YouTattoo You is the 16th British and 18th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1981. The follow-up to Emotional Rescue, it proved to be a big critical and commercial success...
(Rolling Stones) - (1985) "Till My Baby Comes Home" (Luther VandrossLuther VandrossLuther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
) - Plays organ - (1986) "Great Gosh A'Mighty (Been A Long Time Comin')" - Co-written with Little RichardLittle RichardRichard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
- from the hit motion picture Down and Out in Beverly HillsDown and Out in Beverly HillsDown and Out in Beverly Hills is a 1986 American comedy film based on the French play Boudu sauvé des eaux, which had previously been adapted on film in 1932 by Jean Renoir. Down and Out in Beverly Hills was directed by Paul Mazursky, and starred Nick Nolte, Bette Midler and Richard Dreyfuss...
. Little Richard - vocal. - (1990) Ringo Starr and His All-Starr BandRingo Starr and His All-Starr BandThis article is about the album. For the band, go to Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band is Ringo Starr's first official live album, recorded in 1989 during his successful comeback tour and released in 1990...
- Plays keyboards and vocals - (1990) Giovani Jovanotti (JovanottiJovanottiLorenzo Cherubini, better known as Jovanotti, is an Italian singer-songwriter and rapper.The name Jovanotti derives from the plural form of the Italian word giovanotto , i.e. giovanotti. Lorenzo Cherubini originally auditioned a band with the name "I Giovanotti", but the record producer only was...
) - Plays keyboards & Fender Rhodes - (1991) ...E La Vita Continua (Nino D'AngeloNino D'AngeloGaetano "Nino" d'Angelo is an Italian singer. He was born in San Pietro a Patierno, a suburb of Naples. Nino had a very difficult childhood, and to help his family's poor financial condition he left the school and started working at a very young age.Thanks to Alberto Lupo he was able to enter the...
) - (1993) Wandering SpiritWandering Spirit (album)Wandering Spirit is the third solo album by Mick Jagger. Released in 1993, it was his only solo album release of the 1990s.Following the The Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels , Jagger began writing new material for what would become Wandering Spirit...
(Mick JaggerMick JaggerSir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
) - "Sweet Thing", "Out of Focus", "Use Me", "Wandering Spirit" and "I've Been Lonely for So LongI've Been Lonely for So Long"I've Been Lonely For So Long" is a pop-soul song recorded by American southern soul singer Frederick Knight. The song, written by Posie Knight and Jerry Weaver, was released in 1972 by Stax Records....
". - (1996) Voyage of Dreams - Jephté Guillaume and the Tet Kale Orkestra - Plays Organ, Strings on "Al Di Yo", "Go Tell Them", "Kanpe", "Get Up")
- (1996) Donnie McClurkinDonnie McClurkinDonald Andrew McClurkin, Jr. is an American gospel music singer and minister. He has won three Grammy awards, ten Stellar awards, two BET awards, two Soul Train awards, one Dove award and one NAACP Image award for his work....
(Donnie McClurkin) - Organ - (1996) El Equilibiro de los Jaguares (Jaguares) - Organ/Hammond B3 on "Detrás de los Cerros"
- (1996) Peace Beyond PassionPeace Beyond PassionPeace Beyond Passion is an album by Me'shell Ndegeocello. It was released June 25, 1996 on Maverick Records. The album peaked at #63 on the Billboard Top 200 list in 1996. The album also peaked at #15 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. It went on to become Me'shell's most commercially successful...
(Me'shell Ndegeocello) - Keyboards on "Deuteronomy: Niggerman" - (1997) Bridges to BabylonBridges to BabylonBridges to Babylon is a studio album by British rock band The Rolling Stones, released by Virgin Records on 29 September 1997. It would prove to be the band's final studio album of the 1990s and their last full-length release of new songs until 2005's A Bigger Bang...
(Rolling Stones) - Organ on "Saint of MeSaint of Me"Saint of Me" is a single by The Rolling Stones from their 1997 album Bridges to Babylon. Mick Jagger sings about various people in history who had converted to Christianity, notably St. Paul and St. Augustine. Jagger then states that they will never make a saint out of him.-Recording:The song is...
" - (1998) Undiscovered SoulUndiscovered Soul-1997 Japanese Version:This version contains a slightly different running order and alternate versions of songs.# "Made in America" – 5:48# "Hard Times Come Easy" – 4:35# "Fallen from Graceland" – 6:48...
(Richie SamboraRichie SamboraRichard Stephen "Richie" Sambora is an American rock guitarist, producer, musician, singer, and songwriter who is the longtime lead guitarist of the rock band, Bon Jovi. He and frontman Jon Bon Jovi form the primary songwriting unit of the band...
) - (2000) The Harsh Light of DayThe Harsh Light of DayThe Harsh Light of Day is the third album by pop-rock band Fastball, released in September 2000 by Hollywood Records. The album had a distinctly more layered and glossier sound than past albums, and featured an impressive roster of guest stars, including The Beatles contemporary Billy Preston,...
(FastballFastball (band)Fastball is an American rock band that formed in Austin, Texas in the 1990s. The band originally called themselves "Magneto U.S.A." but changed their name after signing with Hollywood Records....
) - Plays keyboards on "You're An Ocean" - (2001) Songs From The West CoastSongs from the West CoastSongs from the West Coast is the twenty-seventh studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released worldwide on 1 October 2001. Many critics have said that this album brought John back to his piano-based musical roots. He once again collaborated with long-time lyricist Bernie Taupin....
(Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
) - "Electric organHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
" on "I Want Love", "The Wasteland", "Love Her Like Me" - (2001) ReptileReptile (album)Reptile is a studio album by British musician Eric Clapton, released by Reprise Records on 13 March 2001. The album was produced by Eric Clapton with Simon Climie and is Eric's first album to feature keyboard work by Billy Preston and background vocals by the Impressions.- Track listing :#...
(Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
) - (2001) One More Car, One More RiderOne More Car, One More RiderOne More Car, One More Rider is a double live album by Eric Clapton, released on November 5, 2002 on Warner Bros. Records. The album contains songs performed during Clapton's 2001 world tour. The recordings on this album are from two nights at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, August 18 & 19 of 2001...
(Eric Clapton, live) - DVD includes live performance of Will It Go Round in Circles - (2002) TravelogueTravelogue (Joni Mitchell album)Travelogue is a 2002 double album by Joni Mitchell featuring orchestral re-recordings of songs from throughout her career. It is the follow-up to 2000's Both Sides Now which had a similar format...
(Joni MitchellJoni MitchellJoni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
) - Plays Hammond B3 on the track "You Dream Flat Tires" - (2002) "American IV:The Man Comes Around"(Johnny Cash) - Piano on "Tear Stained Letter" and "Personal Jesus"
- (2003) The Colored Section (Donnie) - Plays Hammond B3 on the last track: "The Colored Section"
- (2003) Concert for GeorgeConcert for GeorgeThe Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 as a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his death. The event was organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne...
- Including "Isn't It a Pity" and "My Sweet LordMy Sweet Lord"My Sweet Lord" is a song by former Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison from his UK number one hit triple album All Things Must Pass. The song was written in praise of the Hindu god Krishna...
" - (2003) Get BornGet Born-B-Sides:#"Hold On" - featured on the soundtrack for the movie Spider-Man 2#"Hey Kids" - B-side to "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"; also featured on the soundtrack to the movie Elektra and later as a bonus track on their 2006 album Shine On....
(JetJet (band)Jet are an Australian rock band formed in 2001 while attending St Bede's College Mentone in Melbourne, . The band consists of lead guitarist Cameron Muncey, bassist Mark Wilson, and brothers Nic and Chris Cester on vocals/rhythm guitar and drums respectively...
) - (2004) Me and Mr. JohnsonMe and Mr. JohnsonMe and Mr. Johnson is an album by Eric Clapton released in 2004. The album is a tribute to legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. According to Clapton's autobiography, the recordings weren't intended to become an album. The band had rented the studio, but Clapton didn't have any songs written, so he...
(Eric Clapton) - Also appears in the DVD companion Sessions for Robert J - (2004) Crossroads Guitar FestivalCrossroads Guitar FestivalThe Crossroads Guitar Festival is a music festival and benefit concert first held in 2004 and again in 2007 and 2010. The festivals benefit the Crossroads Centre founded by Eric Clapton, a drug treatment center located in Antigua. The concerts are also intended to be a showcase for a variety of...
(Eric Clapton) - (2004) Genius Loves CompanyGenius Loves CompanyGenius Loves Company is the final studio album by rhythm and blues and soul musician Ray Charles, posthumously released August 31, 2004 on Concord Records. Recording sessions for the album took place between June 2003 and March 2004...
(Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
) - (2005) 12 Songs12 Songs (Neil Diamond album)12 Songs is a 2005 album by Neil Diamond. It was his first album of all-original, all-new material since 2001's Three Chord Opera. It was produced by Rick Rubin and is often erroneously cited as the first Diamond album since the Bang Records era to feature the artist playing guitar.The working...
(Neil DiamondNeil DiamondNeil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
) - (2005) Back HomeBack Home (Eric Clapton album)Back Home is a studio album by British guitarist-singer-songwriter Eric Clapton. It was released 29 August 2005 internationally and a day later in the US. It is his first album featuring new, original material since Reptile , as the previous release Me and Mr...
(Eric Clapton) - (2005) Choose LoveChoose LoveChoose Love is the 13th studio album by Ringo Starr, released in 2005. Recorded throughout 2004 into 2005, the album received strong reviews upon its release and preceded another promotional tour with Starr and his studio band, called "The Roundheads"....
(Ringo Starr) - (2005) The Concert for Bangladesh (George Harrison and Friends) (Re-mastered version & video)
- (2005) Tough on Crime (Rebecca PidgeonRebecca PidgeonRebecca Pidgeon is a British actress and singer-songwriter. She has maintained a recording career while also acting on stage and in feature films. She is married to the American writer and director David Mamet.-Early life:...
) - Plays Keyboards - (2006) Stadium ArcadiumStadium ArcadiumStadium Arcadium is the ninth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. The album was released on May 9, 2006, on Warner Bros. Records. The album produced five singles: "Dani California", "Tell Me Baby", "Snow ", "Desecration Smile", and "Hump de Bump"...
(Red Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
) - Plays on "Warlocks" - (2006) The Road to EscondidoThe Road to EscondidoThe Road to Escondido is an album by J. J. Cale and Eric Clapton. It was released on November 7, 2006. Contained on this album are the final recordings of Billy Preston, to whom the album is dedicated....
(Eric Clapton, J. J. Cale) - (2007) Reach (Is'real Benton) - Plays organ on "Have A Good Time"
External links
- Billy Preston's official site
- Fox News "'Fifth Beatle' Billy Preston Dies at 59" June 6, 2006
- The Complete Apple Records
- [ Allmusic.com "Billy Preston"]
- In-depth biographical obituary about Preston and his work from NewYorkNightTrain.com