'Fifth Beatle' Billy Preston Dies at 59
Click here: Billy Preston 1946 -- 2006 A Tribute
Click here: BILLY PRESTON DEATHLY ILL
The great singer-songwriter and performer Billy Preston, the real "Fifth Beatle," has died after a long illness as a result of malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure and other complications.
As a result of a medical insult, he'd been in a deep coma since last November 21, but was still struggling to recover. He died at Shea Scottsdale Hospital in Scottsdale , Ariz. , where he'd lived for the last couple of years.
Billy was called the Fifth Beatle because he played keyboards on "Let It Be," "The White Album" and " Abbey Road ." He also played on the Rolling Stones' hit song "Miss You," and often played with Eric Clapton. He also did the organ work on Sly & the Family Stone's greatest hits.
Preston 's own hits include "Nothing From Nothing," "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "You Are So Beautiful," which Joe Cocker turned into an international hit.
Preston was actually mentored by Ray Charles, and acts like Little Richard (see below), Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland had a huge impact on him at a young age.
In the early '60s, Billy went to Europewith Little Richard who was playing in Hamburg . The Beatles were the opening act, and as the story goes, he was the one who made sure they got fed.
His friendship with them lasted through the 1960s and he was the first act signed to Apple Records, thanks to George Harrison. The resulting album is called "That's the Way God Planned It."
In 1971, Preston played in "The Concert for Bangladesh ." Last year, in one of his final appearances, he performed at a reunion in Los Angeles for the release of the Bangladesh DVD with Clapton and Harrison 's son Dhani on guitar.
More recently, Billy can be heard on the latest albums by Neil Diamond and Red Hot Chili Peppers. He's also featured on the Starbucks soul album "Believe to My Soul," featuring Mavis Staples and Ann Peebles.
Meanwhile, despite his illness, he continued to perform even though he had no working kidneys and was receiving dialysis. He was a warm, wonderful human being with a mile-wide smile. He was also a genius musician, the likes of whom we will notsee again.
Rest in peace, Billy.
BILLY PRESTON DIES AT 59; Andrae Crouch Gives Statement
Less than a month ago EUR Gospel reported on the raging courtroom
battles between comatose singer Billy Preston’s manager and his
sisters, who were fighting to protect his estate and gain hospital
visitation rights. Our dismal update: The extraordinarily talented
singer, organist, pianist’s health is no longer going ‘round in circles.
After fighting kidney failure and severe heart disease over the last
two years, 59 year old Preston died in a Scottsdale hospital Tuesday.
Known the world over as a genius on the keys, Billy Preston will be
remembered for his contributions to Gospel to R&B to Rock and Roll.
His sister Rodena had planned a tribute concert and prayer
service in Los Angeles for her famous sibling, whose musical roots were
in the church.
. . . *Preston had been in a coma since November, according to
his longtime manager, Joyce Moore. He was rushed to a hospital in
Scottsdale Saturday after his condition had deteriorated.
"He had a very, very beautiful last few hours and a really
beautiful passing," Moore told the Associated Press by telephone from
Germany. "He went home good."
Preston had been on dialysis treatments ever since his 2002
kidney transplant to address his chronic kidney failure, Moore said
earlier this year.
The Houston, Texas native, a teen prodigy on the piano and organ,
worked with such artists as Sam Cooke, Eric Clapton, Sammy Davis Jr.,
Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and the Jackson 5. But he was best
known for his collaborations with The Beatles.
Nicknamed the fifth Beatle, Preston contributed his
gospel-flavored talent to the Fab Four’s “Get Back” and the Stones’
“Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?” He played on the Beatles’ 1970 album “Let
It Be” and on the songs “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” and “Something,”
from 1969’s “Abbey Road.”
Signed to the Beatles’ Apple label in 1969, his solo career took
off the following decade with such hits as “Outta Space,” which earned a
Grammy in 1973, "Will It Go 'Round In Circles," "Nothing From Nothing"
and "With You I'm Born Again," a duet with Syreeta Wright (Stevie
Wonder’s first wife).
In the past year, Preston contributed to the recently-released
album from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Stadium Arcadium.” Although
seriously ill, he heard a scratch tape of the song “Warlocks,” given to
him by the band for consideration, and reportedly jumped out of bed to
record his part before going right back to bed. His final work was
playing organ on the new “Neil Diamond” album, “12 Songs.”
Andrae Crouch statement:
I met my childhood friend Billy Preston at age 14 at a church
convention and that is when our music ministry started. In the early
60's, Billy was a member of my first group the COGIC (Church of God In
Church )......way before his Little Richard and Beatles connection.
Other members were my twin sister Sandra Crouch, Sondra Williams (later
became a Motown recording artist), Edna Wright (later became a member of
the Honeycombs), Gloria Jones (later a Motown producer/songwriter) and
Franki Kahrl.
Billy was with me when I wrote my first song, sang and recorded
"The Blood Will Never Lose It Power." "Even after Billy became famous in
his various choice of music, Rock, Pop, Rhythm and Blues, he never left
his gospel roots. Billy continued to visit my father's church often and
played on some of my most successful recordings, "Take Me Back" and at
least 10 other songs on many albums through the years. We always worked
well together and our friendship remain strong throughout the years.
The last time we played and sang together was at his mother
funeral last year. He was the most gifted organ player in the world.
There will never be another unique talent like Billy."
Billy was like a brother to me and my sister Sandra. We loved him
very much and he will be truly missed. Our prays, thoughts and love goes
out to his sister Rodena and the entire family. Gospel Legend Andrae
Crouch
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