RIP Billy Preston

Janice Brooks · From: Pleasant Gap Pa

Keyboard player and composer dead at 59 after an extended coma.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

How sad - I particularly remember his contribution to the Everly Brothers' "Beat'n'Soul" album in the mid-1960s.

RR

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Wow, what a shock. I never even knew he was ill. I was fortunate enough to meet him in'91; got a light off his cigarette.

Tucker Jackson · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

One of the few people on the planet who could actually walk into a bar, sit down next to an attractive young woman, and with a straight face, say "Hi. I'm the fifth Beatle."

Rest Easy, Mr. Preston.

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

Oh man... this is awful...
He was - and still is - one of my all time musical heroes.
Go easy Billy...

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

I learned some stuff I didn't know about him & his credits, reading an obit. What a lousy way to learn about someone. I was unaware of his terrible health problems. This sure is a shame.

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

I bought the sheet music to,"Will It Go 'Round In Circles",& was seriously gonna learn it,to sing. LOVED that song. Sorry to hear this.

For you trivia buffs,Billy's mom was Ernestine Wade,who played "Sapphire",the wife of the "Kingfish" on radio & TV's "Amos 'n Andy". She was the ONLY black person on the radio series,since Freeman Gosden & Chas. Correll were,both,white,& the ONLY one to make the transition to the TV show,as the same character.

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 6 Jun 2006 2:29 pm

I'm with Skip - another musical hero (of mine) gone. So sad.

Webb Kline · From: Orangeville, PA

One of my heroes too. His recent B3 work with Clapton clearly blew me away. What a master of the drawbars he was. What soul and emotion--and always as happy as a pig in slop. I'll miss him for sure.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Too bad. I wasn't aware of his illness either. I always enjoyed his singing and instrumental work on his own music and particularly his contributions to many other artists music. He was a fabulous organist and keyboardist. I believe "Nothin' from Nothin" was one of his numbers, right? He will surely be missed.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I've always loved his music, and his tracks with the Beatles. So sad to hear that he's gone.

Rick McDuffie · From: Benson, North Carolina, USA

Sad news. Like Webb, I saw a DVD of him playing with EC and it was just breathtaking and full of joy. I loved all of his work. I can never think of him playing without seeing that broad gap-toothed smile. He died too young, as have many other of my musical heroes.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Sad news. I saw him at the Philmore in NYC many many years back..Great performer.....he pretty much had everyone in the place standin and rockin out with him...it was not possible to sit while he played...

RIP Billy...

thanks for the music...

t

Drew Howard · From: 48854

I saw Billy Preston play with the Stones in '75 and he did his hits, awesome!

RIP,
Drew

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Drew Howard - website - Fessenden guitars, 70's Fender Twin, etc.

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

I agree: sad news. His work along with Clapton's on "The Concert for George" (Harrison) added much to a great event.

RIP

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Bless ya Billy - RIP

Bill Cunningham · From: Atlanta, Ga. USA

This morning Imus played a short Ray Charles clip of a country standard (that I can't remember the name of tonight). Ray sang and then said, "play it Mr. Preston" which lead to some nice blusey organ.

A nice tribute............

Michael Barone · From: Downingtown, Pennsylvania

I loved all of his music. His style was unique.

I remember some years ago, I think he was the bandleader for a talk show featuring David Brenner for a while. He played some monster arrangements. I also think he was the only well-known B-3 player sporting an antique white organ & leslie. RIP Billy Preston.

Mike

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Someone told me today that he died a pauper. Is that really true? Can that be true? If so, what hope is there for the rest of us??

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Living in Hawaii you take what you can get and we got to see Billy perform on the beach at Waikiki a few years ago along with an all star band of Felix Cavalleri, Mark Farner, Steve Cropper and a host of others all doing their hits making a beautiful day even better.

The guy lived a full life during some great times, and was well respected by the well respected.

The 5th Beatle! No one else could say that, 'cept maybe Pete and Stu.

[This message was edited by Ron Whitfield on 07 June 2006 at 09:27 PM.]

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Aw, man.

That's really sad news.

Prayers to the family. I always loved the guy's bounce and stage energy.

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

What I liked b about his playing was
the melodic context he used in both chording and single note.

Always sounding like is was sung
not played on an instrument.
He must have played a lot of gospel
and choral based music in his early years, because this element was totally ingrained
in his style.

That same sense of melodiscism was no doubt
why the Beatles wanted him on their sessions.

RIP Billy, You had a great run.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

It really is very sad news. Too much of it lately.

RIP, Billy.

Mark Eaton · Posted 8 Jun 2006 12:40 am

Unless his medical bills took all his money, I can't imagine that he died a pauper.

I saw him playing with Clapton only a bit over a year-and-a-half ago, and though I obviously have no clue how Eric pays his sidemen, I would think they do all right.

"The 5th Beatle! No one else could say that, 'cept maybe Pete and Stu."

And by comparison, their musical contribution to The Beatles was so minimal compared to Billy's, that he absolutely WAS the 5th Beatle!

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Mark

[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 08 June 2006 at 01:43 AM.]

Henry Nagle · From: Santa Rosa, California

Isn't George Martin most aften referred to as The Fifth Beatle? He certainly had an influence and he I think he played some keys.... Harpsichord solo on "In My Life".

Billy Preston was great. I'm sad to hear of his death.

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