Billy Preston
Rhythm and blues, Musical Artist
1946 – 2006
Who was Billy Preston?
William Everett "Billy" Preston was an American musician whose work included R&B, rock, soul, funk and gospel. Preston became famous first as a session musician with artists including Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and the Beatles, and was later successful as a solo artist with hit pop singles including "Outa-Space", its sequel, "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from Nothing", and a string of albums and guest appearances with Eric Clapton, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and others. In addition, Preston was co-author, with The Beach Boys' Dennis Wilson, of "You Are So Beautiful," recorded by Preston and later a #5 hit for Joe Cocker.
Alongside Tony Sheridan, Billy Preston was the only other musician to be credited on a Beatles recording: the artists on the number-one hit "Get Back" are given as "The Beatles with Billy Preston". Stephen Stills asked Preston if he could use Preston's phrase "if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with" and created the hit song.
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- Born
- Sep 2, 1946
Houston - Also known as
- William Everett Preston
- William Everett "Billy" Preston
- The Fifth Beatle
- Parents
- Ethnicity
- African American
- Nationality
- United States of America
- Profession
- Died
- Jun 6, 2006
Scottsdale - Resting place
- Inglewood Park Cemetery
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
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"Billy Preston." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/billy_preston>.
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