Tribute to Billy Preston
The incredible singer-songwriter and keyboardist Billy Preston passed away on June 6th in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 59 years old, and had been in a coma since November of 2005, apparently due to respiratory arrest due to pericarditas. A musical tribute will be held at Faithful Central Bible Church's Tabernacle Worship Center at 6:30 p.m. Monday (June 19) and include singer Edwin Hawkins and drummer Bill Maxwell, according to the musician's sister Rodena Preston. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday (June 20) at the same location. There will be viewings prior to both events. Interment will be private.
Preston was at one time referred to as the 'fifth beatle' because he did extensive keyboard work with the group on such albums as The White Album, Abbey Road, and Let It Be. He also worked with the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton and had several hits of his own, including "Outa-Space," "Will It Go Round In Circles?" and "That's the Way God Planned It." He continued to work with Beatles George Harrison and Ringo Starr after the Beatles broke up, appearing with George in the Concert for Bangladesh, and touring with an incarnation of Ringo Starr's All-Star Band.
Preston was a fantastic musician who was one of the missing links between various forms of black popular music. Like saxophonist King Curtis and a handful of others, Preston presented music that sample freely from a mixed
bag that included soul, jazz, gospel, and rock and roll. With his universal message of peace and love, Preston could knock your socks off as a front man, but is probably best known as a sideman who could make his presence known with the smallest flourish of the keyboards. It's hard to imagine Beatles songs like "Let It Be" and "Get Back" without Preston's funky keyboards. But Preston started out doing some soul jazz work that demonstrates the influence of Jimmy McGriff. He recorded two albums for Capitol in 1966 and 1967 respectively: The Wildest Organ In Town and Club Meeting, that shows what he could do in this setting. The two albums have been out of print for some time, but are currently available on a single disc, import reissue from EMI. Other formidable Preston discs that are available include That's the Way God Planned It,
I Wrote a Simple Song.
A few months ago I watched the DVD version of Concert for Bangladesh and marveled over Preston's live performance of "That's The Way God Planned It." He performed the song wonderfully, backed by a band that included George Harrison, Jim Keltner, Eric Clapton, and Klaus Voorman, then came out from behind his organ at the end and 'took it to church,' performing a rousing revival meeting from the stage of Madison Square Garden. What are the chances of filling a stadium that size to see performers like this today? I also remember a photograph of Harrison and Preston photographed with President Gerald Ford during one of Harrison's American tours. Ford presented the duo with his famous WIN (Whip Inflation Now) buttons. Harrison was shaggy and bearded, while Preston sported a major afro.
Billy will be missed by all who enjoy truly American music.
Preston was at one time referred to as the 'fifth beatle' because he did extensive keyboard work with the group on such albums as The White Album, Abbey Road, and Let It Be. He also worked with the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton and had several hits of his own, including "Outa-Space," "Will It Go Round In Circles?" and "That's the Way God Planned It." He continued to work with Beatles George Harrison and Ringo Starr after the Beatles broke up, appearing with George in the Concert for Bangladesh, and touring with an incarnation of Ringo Starr's All-Star Band.
Preston was a fantastic musician who was one of the missing links between various forms of black popular music. Like saxophonist King Curtis and a handful of others, Preston presented music that sample freely from a mixed
bag that included soul, jazz, gospel, and rock and roll. With his universal message of peace and love, Preston could knock your socks off as a front man, but is probably best known as a sideman who could make his presence known with the smallest flourish of the keyboards. It's hard to imagine Beatles songs like "Let It Be" and "Get Back" without Preston's funky keyboards. But Preston started out doing some soul jazz work that demonstrates the influence of Jimmy McGriff. He recorded two albums for Capitol in 1966 and 1967 respectively: The Wildest Organ In Town and Club Meeting, that shows what he could do in this setting. The two albums have been out of print for some time, but are currently available on a single disc, import reissue from EMI. Other formidable Preston discs that are available include That's the Way God Planned It,I Wrote a Simple Song.
A few months ago I watched the DVD version of Concert for Bangladesh and marveled over Preston's live performance of "That's The Way God Planned It." He performed the song wonderfully, backed by a band that included George Harrison, Jim Keltner, Eric Clapton, and Klaus Voorman, then came out from behind his organ at the end and 'took it to church,' performing a rousing revival meeting from the stage of Madison Square Garden. What are the chances of filling a stadium that size to see performers like this today? I also remember a photograph of Harrison and Preston photographed with President Gerald Ford during one of Harrison's American tours. Ford presented the duo with his famous WIN (Whip Inflation Now) buttons. Harrison was shaggy and bearded, while Preston sported a major afro.
Billy will be missed by all who enjoy truly American music.
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