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"Fifth Beatle" Billy Preston dies

Doctor Q

Doctor Q

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Sep 19, 2002
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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.

iTunes Music Store album list
 
Now that is a real shame. He had a hit of his own once too... can't remember the title. Feeling old now... :eek:
 
Blue Velvet said:
Now that is a real shame. He had a hit of his own once too... can't remember the title. Feeling old now... :eek:
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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.
 
calculus said:
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.
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After a little googling, the two I definitely remember are:

• Will It Go Round In Circles
• Nothing From Nothing
 
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 in Abbey Road Studio with the Beatles

That's the Way on stage with George Harrison​
And digging way back into the time machine, there's this hilariously ancient clip:
I'm So Lonely with Jackie Wilson​
 
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.
 
MattG said:
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.
Click to expand...

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
 
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...
 
raggedjimmi said:
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...
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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.
 
Blue Velvet said:
After a little googling, the two I definitely remember are:

• Will It Go Round In Circles
• Nothing From Nothing
Click to expand...

I always think of his duet with Syreeta Wright, "With You I'm Born Again" but she died last year.

I never knew that Billy Preston had anything to do with the Beatles.
 
Jaffa Cake said:
This past week also saw the passing of reggae great Desmond Dekker, one of the first musicians to introduce ska to the wider world.
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Yes, that was a sad one two. Those are some of the first reggae records I remember
 
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