Goodbye "Fifth Beatle"

 Billy and his buddy George

 

I remember back in the mid 70's hanging out at my friend Kayce's house in Maple Bluff.  Kayce was my partner in crime.  From riding matresses down the staircase when her parents were away to watching her brother Michael driving the car up and down the driveway at age 13.  That later event led us to believe that we had something over Michael thus allowing us to go into his room without permission.  We were risk takers, Kayce and I.  We had just painted our nails while watching the Sonny and Cher show. We were wearing towels on our heads to pretend we had hair as long as Cher's.  It was on this particular night that Michael made the mistake of leaving his room unattended.  The sound of a 45 record playing on his turntable floated out of his room.  It was the most amazing funky sound of a Hammond B-3 organ I had ever heard.  I was ecstatic.  The music invited me into Michael's unattended room.  What could have possibly enticed me to enter the older (and cute and popular) brother of a friend's room uninvited?  The musician:  Billy Preston.  The song:  Outa Space.  It was incredible.   

 

Billy Preston died June 6th.  Most people don't know that he, while having many of his own hits, had a real gift in making others sound better.  He performed with a few little known bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.  He was brought in as an outsider to relieve the growing tensions between the members of the Beatles.  He also performed with music royalty like Ray Charles, Little Richard, Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton.  He wrote Joe Cocker's hit "You Are So Beautiful" and was featured on the latest albums of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Neil Diamond.

 

I would be remiss not to mention his unique look.  A mushroom-shaped tower of an afro and a gap-toothed smile.  I will never forget watching his hair and his engaging presence as he banged away on his organ. Suchgreat hits as "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from Nothing."  Picture all this while he was wearing platform shoes and bell bottoms.

 Billy Preston, favorite sideman...

 

Although Preston was only officially credited with one song to the Beatles; "Get Back,"  he was an incredible musician who enjoyed solo success in his own right.  And he gave me quite a memory to reflect on at my friend Kayce's house that night over 30 years ago.

 

 

In His Own Words:
In this sound clip, Billy Preston remembers meeting the Beatles in Hamburg.

Here, Billy talks about his experience with Let It Be and playing his solo on Get Back.