Getting his start as a 15-year-old church organist, he was actually one of the VERY FEW that could RIGHTFULLY claim the title of "FIFTH BEATLE" (Link Courtesy FOX NEWS) (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198353,00.html)

Along with BEATLE confidant MAL EVANS, manager BRIAN EPSTEIN, and of course producer GEORGE MARTIN.....

But PRESTON had the distinction of being the subject of strong rumours that, in 1969, he was to be permanently incorporated into the Fab Four's ensemble.....hence taking the unprecendented step of giving him a name check on the label credits of the 1969 single "GET BACK" c/w "DON'T LET ME DOWN"...

The credits read The BEATLES featuring BILLY PRESTON

After his stint with the Fab Four, he went on to a stellar solo career (Making homes at labels such as APPLE, A & M and MOTOWN), as well as guest starring on albums by and touring with The ROLLING STONES..:nice:

WILLIAM EVERETT PRESTON, Rest In Peace.....:(

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He has gone around his circle.

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He has gone around his circle.

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And like EVERY OTHER ANGEL....he is flying high like a bird up in the sky...

What can I say?

I loved almost everything he ever did both as a sideman and as an artist.

The last time I saw/heard of him was at the Concert For George [Harrison],the version of "Isn't It A Pity" he and Eric Clapton did was stunning.

In 2001 he did "Imagine" with Oleta Adams at a tribute concert to John Lennon weeks after 9/11,to this day my eyes still water when thinking of that moment.

As well as The Beatles he also worked with The Rolling Stones [Billy's organ solo on The Stones' "I Got The Blues" was his best moment as a musician in my view],Little Richard,Ray Charles,Barbra Streisand ,Bob Dylan,Johnny Cash, [I think] Earl Scruggs and God knows who else.

And he made many great albums of his own ,my two favorites are I Wrote a Simple Song [on A+M] and The's The Way God Planned It [on Apple].

I also think he originally recorded "My Sweet Lord" and only after Billy's version wasn't a hit did the song' s author George Harrsion record it himself.

I already miss him and will for a long time.

As well as The Beatles he also worked with The Rolling Stones [Billy's organ solo on The Stones' "I Got The Blues" was his best moment as a musician in my view],Little Richard,Ray Charles,Barbra Streisand ,Bob Dylan,Johnny Cash, [I think] Earl Scruggs and God knows who else.


My fave tunes, other than BEATLES songs he contributed to are:

"AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG" with The ROLLING STONES (That piano was a SONOFAGUN!:nice: )

"SHOW ME YOUR SOUL" with The RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS:nice: (again!)

He also, with The Much Regretted SYREETA WRIGHT (The former Mrs. STEVIE WONDER), recorded the hit "WITH YOU I'M BORN AGAIN" whilst he was at MOTOWN in the Late 1970's.

He will be MISSED!:(

That's sad. I remember my dad listening to Preston albums when I was a kid. I've always liked the sound of a Hammond organ.