Singer-songwriter Billy Preston dead at 59

[needlefingers]

Sorry to bring bad news again, but we lost another heavy today.

Singer-songwriter Billy Preston dead at 59

By BOB CHRISTIE, Associated Press Writer


PHOENIX - Billy Preston, the exuberant keyboardist who landed dream gigs with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and enjoyed his own series of hit singles, including "Outta Space" and "Nothing From Nothing," died Tuesday at 59.

Preston's longtime manager, Joyce Moore, said Preston had been in a coma since November in a care facility and was taken to a hospital in Scottsdale Saturday after his condition deteriorated.

"He had a very, very beautiful last few hours and a really beautiful passing," Moore said by telephone from Germany. "He went home good."

Preston had battled chronic kidney failure, and he received a kidney transplant in 2002. But the kidney failed and he has been on dialysis ever since, Moore said earlier this year.

Known for his big smile and towering Afro, Preston was a teen prodigy on the piano and organ, and lent his gospel-tinged touch to classics such as the Beatles' "Get Back" and the Stones' "Can't You Hear Me Knocking?"

He broke out as a solo artist in the 1970s, winning a best instrumental Grammy in 1973 for "Outta Space," and scoring other hits with "Will It Go 'Round In Circles," "Nothing From Nothing" and "With You I'm Born Again," a duet with Syreeta Wright.

He also wrote Joe Cocker's weeper, "You Are So Beautiful," and co-wrote with Quincy Jones the score for 1970 movie "They Call Me Mr. Tibbs." Other achievements included being a musical guest on the 1975 debut of "Saturday Night Live," and having a song named after him by Miles Davis. Among his film credits: "Blues Brothers 2000" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."

Preston's partnership with the Beatles began in early 1969 when friend George Harrison recruited him to play on "Let It Be," a back-to-basics film and record project that nearly broke down because of feuding among band members. Harrison himself quit at one point, walking out on camera after arguing with Paul McCartney.

Preston not only inspired the Beatles to get along — Harrison likened his effect to a feuding family staying on its best behavior in front of a guest — but contributed a light, bluesy solo to "Get Back," performing the song with the band on its legendary "roof top" concert, the last time the Beatles played live. He was one of many sometimes labeled "The Fifth Beatle."

Preston remained close to Harrison and performed at Harrison's all-star charity event, "The Concert for Bangladesh" and at the "Concert for George," a tribute to Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001. He played on solo records by Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon.

Preston also toured and recorded extensively with the Rolling Stones, playing on such classic albums as "Sticky Fingers" and "Exile on Main Street." In the mid-'70s, he parted from the Stones, reportedly unhappy over not getting proper credit for "Melody" and other songs. He reunited with the band in 1997 on its "Bridges to Babylon" record.

His sessions credits included Aretha Franklin's "Young, Gifted and Black," Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" and Sly and Family Stone's "There's a Riot Goin' On," three of the most acclaimed albums of the past 35 years.

The Houston native earned his performance chops at age 10 playing the keyboard for gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, and at 12 portraying a young W. C. Handy in the 1958 biopic "St. Louis Blues." He toured with mentors and fellow piano greats Ray Charles and Little Richard in the early 1960s, first encountering the Beatles while on the road in Germany.

In his later years, he toured with Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood, as well as Motown session musicians the Funk Brothers. He also was featured on Ray Charles ' last album "Genius Loves Company," as well as the latest Red Hot Chili Peppers album "Stadium Arcadium."

[remicks]

Sorry to bring bad news again, but we lost another heavy today.

Preston's longtime manager, Joyce Moore, said Preston had been in a coma since November in a care facility and was taken to a hospital in Scottsdale Saturday after his condition deteriorated.

Preston had battled chronic kidney failure, and he received a kidney transplant in 2002. But the kidney failed and he has been on dialysis ever since, Moore said earlier this year.

Was Billy Preston's bad health common knowledge to you all?
I had no idea but admit to not keeping up with what celebrity type rags print ....but do none of them keep us posted when performers and artists are in such dire circumstances ? Seems like I only hear about one thing ...their deaths . Then it is too late to send notes of appreciation for the pleasures they brought into our lives ....

Such as Billy Preston ..... I didn't know about the failed kidney transplant (?) Now too late , another seems suddenly gone .....



>>> In the search for the roots of disco, Billy Preston deserves immediate mention. .... While I wouldn't suggest he was in the running as the original disco man .... I think his styling places him on the top rung of instigators ... He brought an uplifting energetic angle to the organ /synthesizer based sound ... a spiritually flavoured ... get out of your pew and move it about in the aisles ... type boogie .
He also knew that this new direction of sound was well suited to defining the times .... like Deodato and his Sprach Zarathustra .... Billy was calling his songs SPACE RACE and OUTTA SPACE years before Star Wars cemented the theme ....

Thanks Billy Preston . Music in general , and disco music specifically is indebted to you . RIP



*****

[needlefingers]

I, too, am always surprised to read in their obituaries that they had been in declining health for some time. While some do get that attention (June Pointer, Luther Vandross, Barry White), others fail to register on the radar (Billy Preston, Gene McFadden).

I agree that he is a stepping stone to disco. And a founding father of funk.

I bought the Ultimate Collection CD about 6 months ago. I needed to add it to my collection as I remembered all those songs. We were doing the “robot” and “popping and locking” back in 75-76. Outta Space was a big song for us. And it was a big in the roller-skating rinks too when it came out a few years earlier. It was big everywhere

Billy Preston was a part of my youth, and I remember partying to his music, unaware of the real party that was to come because of it.

I am sad for his passing. I am happy to be able to hear him anytime I want.

[discorecordplayer]

Oh my, another one

[Disco Funk]

This news definitely upset me, not just because I liked Preston's early 70s material, but I also really liked his work with The Beatles on Let It Be. He even played on the album Abbey Road. And he played at the Concert For Bangladesh.

RIP Billy.

Disco Funk

[visuals]

We have lost a lot of greats in recent past but Billy truly surprised me. I was not the biggest fan of his but I did like quite a few of his tunes. I remember seeing some of his old 60's jazz albums laying around at my parents house when I was a little boy. Some of those same albums I remember playing and getting into. "Outta Space", "Space Race" & "Nothing From Nothing" were always good pieces to me. Didn't he have an album called "I Wrote A Simple Song" back in the mid-70's? My heart goes out to his family,freinds and fans.

R.I.P Billy