Billy Preston has died

"The Fifth Beatle," Billy Preston, died of kidney failure today in Scottsdale, Arizona, according to Fox News. He was 59, and had been in a coma for the past eight months.

Preston was diagnosed in May 2001 with kidney failure due to high blood pressure and anemia. He was admitted to a Nashville hospital due to severe leg pain, and was originally diagnosed with phlebitis. He underwent outpatient dialysis treatments and had a kidney transplant in 2002.

The Houston native, who was a child prodigy on organ and piano, did session work with The Beatles on their Let It Be album. He appears in the famous rooftop scene of the group performing "Get Back." He is also on their "Abbey Road" album, George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" album and was a keyboardist for George's Concert for Bangla Desh, John Lennon's "Plastic Ono Band" album and the single "Oh My My" on Ringo Starr's "Ringo" album. Ringo once said, "Billy is the incredible musician of life. You come to realize that if Billy is reading a book, eating a sandwich and playing, he still outplays us all. He's so good." Preston also toured and recorded with The Rolling Stones. His own single, Outa-Space, won a Grammy in 1972. His most notable songwriting hit is "You Are So Beautiful," sung by Joe Cocker.

Billy Preston was born on September 2nd, 1946. He was raised in Los Angeles, and was playing organ by 10. He toured with Little Richard when he was 15, and was a regular cast member on Shindig. With his signature afro and toothy grin, he acted in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, starring alongside the Bee-Gees and Peter Frampton, and in The Blues Brothers with Dan Aykroyd.
In 1997, Preston began a three-year jail sentence for a parole violation for carrying a deadly weapon and cocaine possession. After his stint in jail, he continued his musical career and toured with Eric Clapton in 2001.

 

RIP Billy. The last I heard he was doing OK. Sorry to hear this. Eight months in a coma, I hadn't heard that.

 

Oh God, that is awful! I loved Billy.

RIP

 

R.I.P.

 

Sad to hear about this. I was recently so struck by his ebullience at the Bangladesh concert. A terrific moment and a beautiful song.

L.

 

Oh, that's sad.

Correction....In addition to "Let It Be," I think he played a little on "Abbey Road" but not the White Album.

 

God bless you, Billy. Thank you for all the good music.

 

He is on Abbey Road, yes.. on I Want You (she's so heavy).

 

Sad to hear. R.I.P.

 

A great musician. I loved his Top 40 hits in the 70's.


RIP.




Dan

 

Very sad. Have a good journey, Billy.

 

Corrected.

 

A shame. Kidney failure. Was Billy a heavy drinker?

 

This is so heartbreaking to hear! I loved Billy and his work very much. He is going to be missed.

I knew things were dire with his medical condition. Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton had been out to visit him, which I thought was very nice and touching.

RIP, Billy. Thank you for your music!

 

This is terrible. God bless Billy Preston.

 

Very sad news, but I'm glad his suffering is over. Rest well, Billy.

 

Sad news. I watched and enjoyed his performances on the DVDs 'Concert for George' and 'Concert for Bangladesh' just last week. May Billy rest in peace.

 

Some great lite funk jams, and the best wig in the history of rock. R.I.P.

 

Very sad, a hugely talented musician.

 

We've lost another great one. Very sad day.

 

I watched him last week on the Sessions for Robert J DVD. Great player.

 

Thats terrible. I was just watching him on the Bangladesh DVD last night. I love how the spirit moved him to jump up and shake it in the middle of Thats the Way God Planned it.