Billy Preston Death?

Answer 1

Billy was one of the best-he had such a energetic personality. May he rest in peace!

Answer 2

Preston had had problems with kidney disease in his later years. Although he received a kidney transplant in 2002, his health continued to get worse. He died on June 6, 2006 in Scottsdale, Arizona, of complications of malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure and other complications. He had been in a coma since November 21, 2005. One of his final appearances is playing the clavinet on the track "Warlocks" on the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album. He also appears on the Neil Diamond album "12 Songs".

Answer 3

Preston had battled kidney disease in his later years. Although he received a kidney transplant in 2002, his health continued to deteriorate. He died on June 6, 2006 in Scottsdale, Arizona, of complications of malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure and other complications. He had been in a coma since November 21, 2005.

Answer 4

Yes. He passed on on 06/06/06 at the age of 59. He had been in a coma since 11/21/05.

Answer 5

Will it go round in circles, and get back, 2 great songs by a great singer, rest in peace, Billy

Answer 6

I had no idea. I'm sad. Billy was great. May he rest in peace...

Thank you for mentioning it.

Answer 7

YUp...Billy got back!

Answer 8

he's a great musician....the 5th beatle they say...

i will still be seeing him on my DVD concerts...

Answer 9

Billy Preston
Born
September 9, 1946
Houston, Texas
Died
June 6, 2006
Scottsdale, Arizona

William Everett Preston (September 9, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American soul musician from Houston, Texas, raised mostly in Los Angeles, California. He began playing piano while sitting on his mother's lap at age three. Preston collaborated with some of the greatest names in the music industry, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Ray Charles, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, Sammy Davis Jr., Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin, the Jackson 5, Quincy Jones, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. One of only two non-Beatles to receive a credit on a Beatles single, he played the electric piano on "Get Back" during the band's rooftop concert in 1969. He is one of several people sometimes credited as the "Fifth Beatle".
Contents
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* 1 Career
* 2 Death
* 3 Trivia
* 4 Selected discography
o 4.1 Billboard Pop Singles Chart (US)
o 4.2 Solo albums (not including Gospel albums)
o 4.3 As a guest/session performer
* 5 External links

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Career

Billy Preston began his career playing in the bands of Little Richard and Ray Charles as a keyboardist, however he was probably best known for his work with the Beatles. He played on their 1970 Let It Be album and on the songs "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" and "Something", from 1969's Abbey Road. Signed to their Apple label, in 1969, Preston released the album That's the Way God Planned It and a single of the same name (produced by George Harrison). His relationship with Harrison continued after the break up of The Beatles; he was the first artist to record My Sweet Lord (the single flopped), and he was on several of George's 70's solo albums. Preston also made notable and energetic contributions to the Concert for Bangladesh, a Harrison-organised charity concert, and, after George's death, the Concert for George. Preston also worked on solo recordings by two other ex-Beatles, John Lennon and Ringo Starr.

After the Beatles, Preston played keyboards for the Rolling Stones, alongside pianist Nicky Hopkins. Preston appears on the Stones' albums Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street, Goats Head Soup, It's Only Rock'n Roll and Black and Blue. He toured as a support act with the Stones in 1973, and recorded his live album Live in Europe in Munich with Mick Taylor on guitar. In 1974 composed one of Joe Cocker's biggest hits You Are So Beautiful. In 1975 he became the first musical guest on Saturday Night Live. In 1975 and 1976 he again toured with the Stones, this time getting to play two of his own songs, backed by the Stones, in the middle of every concert. The Stones and Preston parted company in 1977, mainly due to a row over money. He continued to play on solo records by Stones members, and made an appearance again on the Stones' 1997 Bridges to Babylon album.
Billy Preston as Sgt. Pepper
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Billy Preston as Sgt. Pepper

The 1980s were lean years for Preston. He was arrested and convicted for insurance fraud after setting fire to his own house in Los Angeles, and he was treated for alcohol and cocaine addictions. In 1991, he entered no-contest pleas to the cocaine and assault charges. He was sentenced to nine months at a drug rehabilitation center and three months of house arrest.

Preston managed to conquer his problems in the early 1990s, and toured with Eric Clapton, and recorded with a wide range of artists.

Preston participated in the tribute concert "Concert for George Harrison" at Royal Albert Hall and his performance of My Sweet Lord has received critical acclaim. He also recorded on the last album of Ray Charles. He toured with The Funk Brothers and Stevie Winwood in Europe in early 2004 and then with his friend Eric Clapton in Europe and North America. It has been claimed that his big contribution to the Beatles' sound was made clear with the release of the Let it be naked album.

Preston played clavinet on the song "Warlocks" for the Red Hot Chili Peppers album Stadium Arcadium released in 2006. Although very ill, he jumped out of bed after hearing a tape of the song given to him by the band, recorded his part, and went back to bed [1]. Preston's final contribution was playing Gospel-tinged organ on the Neil Diamond album, 12 Songs.
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Death

Preston had battled kidney disease in his later years. Although he received a kidney transplant in 2002, his health continued to deteriorate. He died on June 6, 2006 in Scottsdale, Arizona, of complications of malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure and other complications. He had been in a coma since November 21, 2005.
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Trivia

* Preston was co-writer of the song "You Are So Beautiful" made famous by Joe Cocker.
* Miles Davis titled a song "Billy Preston" in his honour.
* He was the first artist to enter the UK Singles Chart at number one with his debut playing keys on The Beatles' "Get Back".
* He appeared as Sgt. Pepper in the film version of the Beatles album and had a cameo appearance in the film "Blues Brothers 2000".

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Selected discography
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Billboard Pop Singles Chart (US)

* 1969 - #62 "That's the Way God Planned It"
* 1972 - #77 "I Wrote a Simple Song"
* 1972 - #2 "Outta-Space" (Grammy Award winner)
* 1972 - #50 "Slaughter"
* 1972 - #62 "That's the Way God Planned It" {re-release}
* 1973 - #1 "Will It Go Round in Circles"
* 1973 - #4 "Space Race"
* 1974 - #1 "Nothing from Nothing"
* 1974 - #48 "You're So Unique"
* 1975 - #71 "Fancy Lady"
* 1975 - #22 "Struttin'"
* 1978 - #86 "Get Back"
* 1980 - #4 "With You I'm Born Again" (duet with Syreeta Wright)
* 1980 - #52 "One More Time For Love"
* 1980 - #88 "I'm Never Gonna Say Goodbye"

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Solo albums (not including Gospel albums)

* (1965) The Most Exciting Organ Ever
* (1966) The Wildest Organ In Town
* (1969) That's The Way God Planned It
* (1970) Encouraging Words
* (1971) I Wrote A Simple Song
* (1972) Music Is My life
* (1973) Everybody Likes Some Kind Of Music
* (1974) Live European Tour 1973
* (1974) The Kids and Me
* (1975) It's My Pleasure
* (1976) Billy Preston
* (1977) A Whole New Thing
* (1979) Late At Night
* (1981) The Way I Am
* (1982) Pressin' On
* (1984) On The Air
* (1986) You Can't Keep A Good Man Down
* (1995) Billy's Back

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As a guest/session performer

* (1970) Let It Be -- including "Get Back", List of Number 1 singles from the 1960s (UK) (The Beatles)
* (1970) All Things Must Pass (George Harrison)
* (1970) John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, piano on "God" (John Lennon)
* (1971) Sticky Fingers (Rolling Stones)
* (1971) The Concert for Bangla Desh (George Harrison And Friends)
* (1971) There's a Riot Goin' On (Sly & the Family Stone)
* (1972) Exile on Main Street (Rolling Stones)
* (1973) Ringo, organ on "I'm The Greatest"
* (1973) Goats Head Soup (Rolling Stones)
* (1974) Goodnight Vienna, clavinet on the title track, electric piano on "Only You (And You Alone)"
* (1974) It's Only Rock'n Roll (Rolling Stones)
* (1975) "You Are So Beautiful" (Joe Cocker's biggest hit)
* (1976) Thirty Three & 1/3 (George Harrison)
* (1976) Black and Blue (Rolling Stones)
* (1978) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (also acted the part "Sgt. Pepper" in the film)
* (1990) Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band (Billy plays keyboards and vocals)
* (2001) Reptile (Eric Clapton)
* (2001) One More Car One More Rider (Eric Clapton, live) --DVD includes live performance of Will It Go Round in Circles
* (2003) Concert for George -- including Isn't It a Pity and My Sweet Lord
* (2004) Me and Mr. Johnson (Eric Clapton) (also appears in the DVD companion Sessions for Robert J)
* (2005) Choose Love (Ringo Starr)
* (2005) The Concert for Bangladesh (George Harrison and Friends) (Re-mastered version & video)
* (2006) Stadium Arcadium (Red Hot Chili Peppers) (on "Warlocks")

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External links

* Billy Preston's Official Site
* Billy Preston's career on A&M Records with gallery, international discography
* Fox News "'Fifth Beatle' Billy Preston Dies at 59" June 5 2006
* Allmusic.com "Billy Preston"