It’s a sad day for music fans – especially fans of The Beatles, George Harrison and Eric Clapton – as Billy Preston, the “fifth Beatle” during the Get Back/Let It Be sessions, died this morning after a prolonged illness. Preston was 59.
Billy Preston met The Beatles in the early 1960s, when he was one of the supporting acts on a package tour with John, Paul, George and Ringo. Their paths crossed again in January 1969, when George brought Billy into the recording sessions for Get Back to help smooth tensions within the band (“visitors brought out our best behaviour,” Harrison once quipped). And Preston’s keyboard work on the sessions was amazing – who doesn’t know the kick-ass keyboard solo in “Get Back,” such a classic bit of work.
Preston toured with George Harrison in the 1970s, with his appearance in The Concert for Bangladesh showcasing his stellar keyboards and smooth voice. And his performance at 2002’s Concert for George was so uplifting, with Preston turning the entire show into a soulful revival – the joy in his face was intoxicating.
Preston had been battling medical issues stemming from poorly-treated diabetes, which eventually caused kidney failure. This kept him in and out of hospitals for the final decade of his life, though he toured (both solo and with Eric Clapton) when his health allowed. His last recorded studio work is on the new album from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Billy Preston is best summed up with his recorded work, so I leave with three songs that reflect my best memories of Billy Preston’s work:
“Get Back” – The Beatles with Billy Preston, 1969
“Don’t Let Me Down” – The Beatles with Billy Preston, 1969
“Isn’t It A Pity” – Billy Preston and Eric Clapton at “The Concert for George,” 2002
Find these songs in your collection (the first two are on The Beatles’ 1967-1970 (“The Blue Album”) collection, the last one on The Concert For George), spin ’em up, and remember Billy’s talent and warmth.
Rest in peace, Billy.
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