Billy Preston (2 September 1946 - 6 June 2006) was an American soul and roc… Read Full Bio ↴Billy Preston (2 September 1946 - 6 June 2006) was an American soul and rock singer, famously known as a child prodigy pianist before releasing several rnb hits (including #1 smashes "Will It Go 'Round in Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing") and working with classic artists such as Aretha Franklin and The Beatles. He notably performed with Mahalia Jackson at the age of 16 and appeared as a young W.C. Handy in a 1958 biopic. His first solo record was a gospel album called '16 Year Old Soul'.
Preston first came to widespread attention of a U.S. mainstream audience as the organist (and sometimes vocalist) in the house band on the television show 'Shindig,' popular during 1964-66. On tour backing stars Little Richard and Sam Cooke, he met the Beatles (early in their career) in Hamburg, Germany in 1962. He was later invited by George Harrison to join The Beatles in the studio for the filming/recording of 'Let It Be' (1970). Preston's most memorable performance with the Beatles is on the track "Get Back".
The apparent reason for the collaboration was that the project was being done live— without overdubs— and the Beatles wanted a second keyboardist. Preston's soulful style was to compliment the rhythm and blues approach the Beatles had for this album. His was a genre they'd grown up listening to and were reaching back to as well as paying tribute to.
Another apparent reason for Preston's involvement was to buffer the growing tensions between the members of the band (that had started around the time of filming). Everyone set aside their differences to make Preston feel welcome at the sessions. Members of the band have later commented on their joy with working with Preston, whom they respected as a talented musician.
While Preston was never considered for permanent membership in the Beatles (despite stories to the contrary), he did continue working with them through to the end of the 60s: releasing two solo albums on Apple Records (the Beatles' label), collaborating with George Harrison on 'All Things Must Pass', and joining in on the Concert for Bangladesh— one of the first significant benefit concerts of its kind (at Madison Square Garden in 1972). Preston also later made an appearance in the infamous Beatles tribute film 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1978), as the title character— Sgt. Pepper. He's sometimes been referred to as a 'Fifth Beatle'.
In addition to work with said group, Preston also played and toured with The Rolling Stones, playing on significant albums such as 'Sticky Fingers' and 'Exile on Main St.' In the 70s, Preston also worked with Bob Dylan, playing as an accompanist on ' Blood on the Tracks', and Aretha Franklin, on her record 'Young, Gifted and Black'. As the years went on, Preston collaborated with numerous other artists including Barbra Streisand and Miles Davis, also notable touring with Sly and the Family Stone for a time. He also played organ with the Ray Charles big band on tour in the late 60s.
In terms of his solo career, Preston's hit tracks "Will It Go 'Round in Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing" both reached all the way to number one in the U.S. and still remain staples of oldies stations. He won a Grammy Award for best pop instrumental performance for "Outa Space" in 1971, and he received an invitation to the White House no less in 1974. Though perhaps overshadowed by his collaborative work, he devolved a strong and devoted fan-base as album after album made it into the Billboard top 200 album chart.
Preston was also the music director and band leader for the Garry Shandling show in the 80s, returning to the TV work that had given him his start. Yet, in the 80s and 90s, Preston sadly suffered substance abuse and financial issues. He spent three years in prison in 1997 for a drugs possession charge handed out earlier that year (cocaine possession and assault).
His last recordings were on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' album 'Stadium Arcadium' and with Neil Diamond for his "12 songs" record, both produced by Rick Rubin.
A U.S. musical legend, Preston passed away at the age of 59 in a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, as a result of "malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure and other complications".
Preston first came to widespread attention of a U.S. mainstream audience as the organist (and sometimes vocalist) in the house band on the television show 'Shindig,' popular during 1964-66. On tour backing stars Little Richard and Sam Cooke, he met the Beatles (early in their career) in Hamburg, Germany in 1962. He was later invited by George Harrison to join The Beatles in the studio for the filming/recording of 'Let It Be' (1970). Preston's most memorable performance with the Beatles is on the track "Get Back".
The apparent reason for the collaboration was that the project was being done live— without overdubs— and the Beatles wanted a second keyboardist. Preston's soulful style was to compliment the rhythm and blues approach the Beatles had for this album. His was a genre they'd grown up listening to and were reaching back to as well as paying tribute to.
Another apparent reason for Preston's involvement was to buffer the growing tensions between the members of the band (that had started around the time of filming). Everyone set aside their differences to make Preston feel welcome at the sessions. Members of the band have later commented on their joy with working with Preston, whom they respected as a talented musician.
While Preston was never considered for permanent membership in the Beatles (despite stories to the contrary), he did continue working with them through to the end of the 60s: releasing two solo albums on Apple Records (the Beatles' label), collaborating with George Harrison on 'All Things Must Pass', and joining in on the Concert for Bangladesh— one of the first significant benefit concerts of its kind (at Madison Square Garden in 1972). Preston also later made an appearance in the infamous Beatles tribute film 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1978), as the title character— Sgt. Pepper. He's sometimes been referred to as a 'Fifth Beatle'.
In addition to work with said group, Preston also played and toured with The Rolling Stones, playing on significant albums such as 'Sticky Fingers' and 'Exile on Main St.' In the 70s, Preston also worked with Bob Dylan, playing as an accompanist on ' Blood on the Tracks', and Aretha Franklin, on her record 'Young, Gifted and Black'. As the years went on, Preston collaborated with numerous other artists including Barbra Streisand and Miles Davis, also notable touring with Sly and the Family Stone for a time. He also played organ with the Ray Charles big band on tour in the late 60s.
In terms of his solo career, Preston's hit tracks "Will It Go 'Round in Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing" both reached all the way to number one in the U.S. and still remain staples of oldies stations. He won a Grammy Award for best pop instrumental performance for "Outa Space" in 1971, and he received an invitation to the White House no less in 1974. Though perhaps overshadowed by his collaborative work, he devolved a strong and devoted fan-base as album after album made it into the Billboard top 200 album chart.
Preston was also the music director and band leader for the Garry Shandling show in the 80s, returning to the TV work that had given him his start. Yet, in the 80s and 90s, Preston sadly suffered substance abuse and financial issues. He spent three years in prison in 1997 for a drugs possession charge handed out earlier that year (cocaine possession and assault).
His last recordings were on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' album 'Stadium Arcadium' and with Neil Diamond for his "12 songs" record, both produced by Rick Rubin.
A U.S. musical legend, Preston passed away at the age of 59 in a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, as a result of "malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure and other complications".
The Octopus
Billy Preston Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'The Octopus' by these artists:
Amplifier In the sinews of eternity that fortune spins entwined with…
Premonitions Of War Fingerprints on clouded out transfers and identity theft. Wh…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Billy Preston:
01 Day Tripper Got a good reason For taking the easy way out Got a…
A Hard Day It's been a hard day's night, and I been working…
Being With You Come bring me your softness Comfort me through all this madn…
Blackbird Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these broken win…
Can't You Hear My Heartbeat Frenzal Rhomb Meet the family You can't move into my house…
Do What You Want You said Somethin' about you That I can't explain Compared t…
Do You Love Me Love, love, love makes me do foolish things Sit alone…
Eight Days a Week Oh, I need your love, babe Guess you know it's true Hope…
Everything's Alright Baby, everything is all right, uptight, out of sight Baby, …
Fancy Lady Fancy lady is masquerading With a heart that nobody can see …
Get Back Get back, get back Get back to where you once…
Go Where No One's Gone Before Trippin' up electric lights I'll take you places you ain't …
Go where no ones gone before Trippin' up electric lights I'll take you places you ain't g…
Here There and Everywhere To lead a better life I need my love to be…
How Long Has The Train Been Gone Waitin' for that train they said was comin' ... I had…
I Come bring me your softness Comfort me through all this madn…
I Want To Thank You I've got you (I've got you) And I don't need nobody else I'v…
I Wrote A Simple Song I wrote a simple song With simple words and harmony Wasn't v…
I'm Never Gonna Say Goodbye Somebody lied to me, it just can't be, you cant…
I'm Really Gonna Miss You i'm really gonna miss you miss your body next tomine and you…
I'm So Tired I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink I'm so tired,…
I've Got A Feeling I've got a feeling, a feeling deep inside Oh yeah, oh…
If You Let Me Love You If you let me love you I'll give you pleasure And even…
im so tired I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink I'm so tired,…
In Love Stop! in the name of love Before you break my heart Baby,…
Isn Isn't it a pity, isn't it a shame How we break…
Let It Be When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary…
let us all get together right now Let us all get together Right now Let us all get together Ri…
Let's Go Get Stoned Let's go get stoned Let's go get stoned Let's go get stone…
Let's Make Love Love, love, love makes me do foolish things Sit alone…
Morning Star David-Handy I asked my mother Is there a morning star? I wa…
My Girl I've got sunshine on a cloudy day When it's cold outside…
My Sweet Lord My sweet Lord Hm, my Lord Hm, my Lord I really want to…
Nothing From Nothing Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin' You gotta have somethin'…
She Belongs To Me She's got everything she needs, she's an artist, she don't…
Shot Gun I said shotgun shoot 'em 'fore he run now do…
Slaughter Slaughter's going to blow your mind Slaughter does not waste…
Slaughter /Album Version Slaughter's going to blow your mind Slaughter does not wast…
Stop in the Name of Love Stop! in the name of love Before you break my heart Baby…
Tell Me You Need My Loving Tell me you need my loving, tell me you need…
Thank You Jesus I've got you (I've got you) And I don't need nobody else I'v…
That Why can't we be humble Like the good Lord said He promised…
That's the Way God Planned It (live) Why can't we be humble Like the good lord say He promised…
Thats the Way God Planned It Why can't we be humble Like the good Lord said He promised…
The Bus Just got home from Viet Nam Come home and found my…
This Is It This is it This is it What we've been praying And hoping fo…
Uptight Baby, everything is all right, uptight, out of sight Baby, …
What About You You said Somethin' about you That I can't explain Compared t…
While My Guitar Gently Weeps I look at you all See the love there that's sleeping While…
Will It Go Round in Circles I've got a song, I ain't got no melody I'ma gonna…
With You I Come bring me your softness Comfort me through all this madn…
Without A Song Without a song the day would never end Without a song…
You And I Come bring me your softness Comfort me through all this madn…
You Are So Beautifu You are so beautiful, yes You are to me You are so…
You Are the Rhythm In My Life You set the pace and my heart gave chase You smiled…
You Can't Beat God Giving You can′t beat God's giving, no matter how you try And…
You Can't Take It ที กา นา นา บวา ทา โบ อี นา บวา ที…
You're So Unique Never had the pleasure of loving you Nothing, girl, can meas…
You've Got a Friend When you're down and troubled And you need a helping hand An…
Youre So Unique Never had the pleasure of loving you Nothing, girl, can meas…
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Geoff Crisp
Bought this brilliant album on the Sue label in London in 1965 when it first came out. Still have it in my collection 56 years later. Many times wished I could play a Hammond organ like Billy. RIP.
Mpompadour
Back in the early 70's our family was on vacation and Dad stopped for gas and snacks for us and he saw this album on one of those cheapie dollar music racks on 8 track to play in our new car. Man we had no idea what we were in for. As soon as Billy started playing, we were all spellbound and thoroughly enjoyed the entire album. We played it all the way home. It made for an enjoyable trip. To this day, some 40 years later, I still LOVE this album and play it often. RIP Billy Preston. We miss you!
Wonka275
Too fucking cool!