"Fifth Beatle" Billy Preston dies

[Doctor Q]

News link (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/pop/1403AP_Obit_Preston.html)

Singer and songwriter Billy Preson, who played and recorded with the Beatles, toured with the Rolling Stones, and had hits of his own, died today at age 59, probably of kidney failure. He had had a kidney transplant in 2002.

Despite some stints in jail and drug rehab, he was known for his big smile, and his big hair too, as well as his music. He played with Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, and other artists and was the first-ever musical guest on Saturday Night Live.

Video: Billy Preston on keyboards for "Get Back" during the Beatles Rooftop Concert (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xra3UKhbG1o).

iTunes Music Store album list (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=363575)

[Blue Velvet]

Now that is a real shame. He had a hit of his own once too... can't remember the title. Feeling old now... :o

[calculus]

Now that is a real shame. He had a hit of his own once too... can't remember the title. Feeling old now... :o
Was it something like 'That's the way god planned it'? Great song. It's a real shame. I loved the stuff he did with the Beatles.

[Blue Velvet]

Was it something like 'That's the way god planned it'? Great song. It's a real shame. I loved the stuff he did with the Beatles.

After a little googling, the two I definitely remember are:

• Will It Go Round In Circles
• Nothing From Nothing

[calculus]

I don't remember those two - I think they were later. I'm so old.

[Doctor Q]

I was surprised to learn that he wrote "You Are so Beautiful", a popular song performed by Joe Cocker. Preston was amazingly versatile.

More videos of Billy Preston as keyboard accompanist:Don't Let me Down (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx2yLABIvsE) in Abbey Road Studio with the Beatles

That's the Way (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VizaIB-Wwx0) on stage with George HarrisonAnd digging way back into the time machine, there's this hilariously ancient clip:I'm So Lonely (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMydH9riTmA) with Jackie Wilson

[MattG]

Sad...this prompted me to pull out my "Concert for George" tribute CD that he was a part of a few years ago; he did a pretty good version of "My Sweet Lord" on there.

[kwajo.com]

Sad...this prompted me to pull out my "Concert for George" tribute CD that he was a part of a few years ago; he did a pretty good version of "My Sweet Lord" on there.

I love that DVD, it's one of my all-time favorite concerts, just wonderful

and it's very sad to see Preston having passed on, my thoughts are with his family

[raggedjimmi]

I thought the fifth Beatle was the original drummer/guitar dude Ringo replaced? Was it Ringo? He had a brain tumour or something. meh. everyone's a fifth Beatle these days.

Sad though :( Billy Preson always made me smile. Just his face alone. No idea why too...

[calculus]

I thought the fifth Beatle was the original drummer/guitar dude Ringo replaced? Was it Ringo? He had a brain tumour or something. meh. everyone's a fifth Beatle these days.

Sad though :( Billy Preson always made me smile. Just his face alone. No idea why too...
You've managed to make a composite character. Ringo replaced Pete Best as drummer. The original bass player was Stu Sutcliffe - it was him who died from a brain tumour.

[CanadaRAM]

Billy Preston and Vince Welnick (Tubes, Grateful Dead) in one week and both before their threescore and ten, sad times for keyboard players.

[Jaffa Cake]

Billy Preston and Vince Welnick (Tubes, Grateful Dead) in one week...This past week also saw the passing of reggae great Desmond Dekker, (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5018910.stm) one of the first musicians to introduce ska to the wider world.

[bousozoku]

After a little googling, the two I definitely remember are:

• Will It Go Round In Circles
• Nothing From Nothing

I always think of his duet with Syreeta Wright, "With You I'm Born Again" but she died last year. (http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000564568)

I never knew that Billy Preston had anything to do with the Beatles.

[calculus]

This past week also saw the passing of reggae great Desmond Dekker, (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5018910.stm) one of the first musicians to introduce ska to the wider world.
Yes, that was a sad one two. Those are some of the first reggae records I remember

[leftbanke7]

So, where exactly does Pete Best fit in to this whole equation?

[Some_Big_Spoon]

iTunes has a Billy Preston section now at the top of the main page. Has some great stuff in there too, though I wish the Bio was more complete.