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Billy Preston died today!!! :(


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Singer-songwriter Billy Preston dies at 59

By MICHAEL D. CLARK

Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

 

Billy Preston, the Houston-born rock, soul and gospel artist who played alongside pop music's elite, including Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and the Beatles, has died in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 59 years old. Preston had been battling heart and kidney problems for years.

 

Preston was a childhood prodigy. As a pre-teen he portrayed young blues icon W.C. Handy in the 1958 movie St. Louis Blues. Before long he was playing beside other blues and gospel legends including Ray Charles, Little Richard and Mahalia Jackson.

 

But Preston made his biggest mark playing rock 'n' roll.

 

He's acknowledged by some as a "fifth Beatle'' having contributed to the Fab Four's "White Album," Abbey Road and Let It Be. He is the only non-Beatle to ever receive a songwriting credit on one of the group's singles. He also played on the Rolling Stones classics Exile on Main Street and Sticky Fingers. He enjoyed some solo success in the 1970s, including two No. 1 pop singles: Will It Go Round in Circles and Nothing From Nothing.

 

After leaving Houston for Los Angeles, Preston's career took him all around the world, touring with the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton.

 

More recently he played on Neil Diamond's 2005 recording 12 Songs and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' new Stadium Arcadium.

 

 

I don't know how many of you would know him, but he was an AMAZING musician. Brilliant, to say the very least.

 

I met him last April, he was sooo nice. This is an absolute shock to me.... :( What a lose for the music industry.

 

 

Rest in Peace, Billy. :(

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Karma police.. arrest this man... (talks enough)

 

 

I care. Because I met the man and he was incredibly nice to me. He played an hour and a half set at a Beatle fan convention, then trekked all the way over to the signing booth and sat there for 2 hours until everyone was taken care of. More than we can say about A LOT of celebrities.

 

 

lmfao, I love how people don't know who he is. But every single time they here The Beatles' 'Get Back' on the radio, they don't know that he's the one who helped that song (and indeed, helped the Beatles stay together to make 'Abbey Road', their finest work IMHO) come about.

 

 

You look at this man's range of work and I'd be hard pressed to see someone say 'Who Cares???"

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Karma police.. arrest this man... (talks enough)

 

 

I care. Because I met the man and he was incredibly nice to me. He played an hour and a half set at a Beatle fan convention, then trekked all the way over to the signing booth and sat there for 2 hours until everyone was taken care of. More than we can say about A LOT of celebrities.

 

 

lmfao, I love how people don't know who he is. But every single time they here The Beatles' 'Get Back' on the radio, they don't know that he's the one who helped that song (and indeed, helped the Beatles stay together to make 'Abbey Road', their finest work IMHO) come about.

 

 

You look at this man's range of work and I'd be hard pressed to see someone say 'Who Cares???"

 

Random:

 

 

Personally, I was/am no fan of the man. But I just had to say that your profound respect for him is something impressive.

 

Danielle, thanks for being the person that you are and shining some light in this place, however dark the moment.

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