Play Billy Preston Radio
Billy Preston
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32,591 listeners
Billy Preston (9 September, 1946 - 6 June, 2006) was a child prodigy pianist. He performed with Mahalia Jackson at the age of 16 and appeared as a young W.C. Handy in a 1958 bio pic. His first solo record was a gospel album called “16 Year Old Soul”.
Preston first came to widespread attention of a U.S. mainstream audience as the organist (and sometimes vocalist) in the house band on the television show “Shindig,” popular during 1964-66.
On tour backing Little Richard & Sam Cooke he met the Beatles (early in their career) in Hamburg, Germany (1962). He was later invited by George Harrison to join The Beatles in the studio for the filming/recording of Let It Be (1970). Preston’s most memorable performance with the Beatles is on the track Get Back.
The apparent reason for the collaboration was the project was being done live—without overdubs—and the Beatles wanted a second keyboardist. Preston’s soulful style was to compliment the rhythm-and-blues approach the Beatles had for this album. His was a genre they’d grown up listening to and were reaching back to/paying tribute to.
Another apparent reason for Preston’s involvement was to buffer the growing tensions between the members of the band (that had started around the time of filming). Everyone set aside their differences to make Preston feel welcome at the sessions.
Preston first came to widespread attention of a U.S. mainstream audience as the organist (and sometimes vocalist) in the house band on the television show “Shindig,” popular during 1964-66.
On tour backing Little Richard & Sam Cooke he met the Beatles (early in their career) in Hamburg, Germany (1962). He was later invited by George Harrison to join The Beatles in the studio for the filming/recording of Let It Be (1970). Preston’s most memorable performance with the Beatles is on the track Get Back.
The apparent reason for the collaboration was the project was being done live—without overdubs—and the Beatles wanted a second keyboardist. Preston’s soulful style was to compliment the rhythm-and-blues approach the Beatles had for this album. His was a genre they’d grown up listening to and were reaching back to/paying tribute to.
Another apparent reason for Preston’s involvement was to buffer the growing tensions between the members of the band (that had started around the time of filming). Everyone set aside their differences to make Preston feel welcome at the sessions.
Videos
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Play
Billy Preston - Summertime
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Play
Billy Preston Outta Space
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Play
Billy Preston - Nothing from nothing 1975
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Play
Beatles - I've Got a Feeling
Top Albums
Top Tracks
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Nothing From Nothing
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Will It Go Round in Circles
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Outa-Space
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You Are So Beautiful
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Billy's Bag
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Outta Space
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I Wrote a Simple Song
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Space Race
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Right Now
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Eight Days a Week
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Let The Music Play
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Shoutbox
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Smartypants101 wrote:
crazy low plays here :(
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rockadam wrote:
Hello! Join new group for student and adults We Don't Need No Education !!!
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balamars wrote:
God Planned it!
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danielmendes wrote:
thats the way ...
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Orlando-GOL wrote:
Rest in peace
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Doctorrobotnick wrote:
it mentions in his bio performing with Mahalia Jackson at 16 but check out this duet with Nat King Cole when he was 10! http://youtube.com/watch?v=1loV9_xLF8Q and umm... i didn't even realize that he's passed, bummer.
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klochu wrote:
Happy birthday, Billy. !
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happyxface wrote:
R.I.P. Billy <3
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fuzmeister wrote:
Rest in peace, B.P. - brilliant musician.
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tompa_fisk wrote:
kings among men!
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LcdCyn wrote:
The current picture is not of Billy Preston.
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MetallicaACDC wrote:
I saw Billy play live with Eric Clapton back in 2001. He was very energetic and upbeat and always had smile on his face. He even broke out some groovy dance moves during Will It Go Round in Circles. And by God that man could play! One of the best musicians that ever lived. The world will sorely miss him. R.I.P. Billy
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discochicken wrote:
RIP Billy
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mcteethinator wrote:
Whoa 6/6/06.
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arleas wrote:
Man, I was just getting back into his music too... Poor timing on my part... :(
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rochester92 wrote:
R.I.P. Billy. Your music was fantastic. You'll be missed. Nothing from nothing leaves nothing.
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Recent Activity
- slh003111, markbnl, charlymorais and 5 other people added Billy Preston to their libraries. Saturday morning
- cano24 tagged Billy Preston with rnb, funk and rhythm and blues. Tuesday morning
- AFROHIERBA, shortywardrobe, mylesdavidson and 39 other people added Billy Preston to their libraries. September 2008
- pulsar00 tagged Billy Preston with soul and funk. August 2008
- webcatz, kaorustk, Hippityhoppin and 4 other people added Billy Preston to their libraries. August 2008
- clismo tagged Billy Preston with ‘orgel’. August 2008
- infinityorzero tagged Billy Preston with heartbreaking and beautiful. August 2008
- l8blmr, rsalender, mrbmatt and 7 other people added Billy Preston to their libraries. August 2008
- uncutbread tagged Billy Preston with dsoul and dfunk. August 2008
- joelwest, soulchild13, firecat1 and 20 other people added Billy Preston to their libraries. August 2008
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Groups (17)
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The Beatles
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John Winston Ono Lennon
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Soul & Funk Connection
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Funk Reggae and Soul
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