'Fifth Beatle' Billy Preston Dies at 59

[Uncle Joe]

'Fifth Beatle' Billy Preston Dies at 59

The great singer-songwriter and performer Billy Preston, the real "Fifth Beatle," has died after a long illness as a result of malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure and other complications.

As a result of a medical insult, he'd been in a deep coma since last November 21, but was still struggling to recover. He died at Shea Scottsdale Hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he'd lived for the last couple of years.

Billy was called the Fifth Beatle because he played keyboards on "Let It Be," "The White Album" and "Abbey Road." He also played on the Rolling Stones' hit song "Miss You," and often played with Eric Clapton. He also did the organ work on Sly & the Family Stone's greatest hits.

Preston's own hits include "Nothing From Nothing," "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "You Are So Beautiful," which Joe Cocker turned into an international hit.

Preston was actually mentored by Ray Charles, and acts like Little Richard (see below), Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland had a huge impact on him at a young age.

In the early '60s, Billy went to Europe with Little Richard who was playing in Hamburg. The Beatles were the opening act, and as the story goes, he was the one who made sure they got fed.

His friendship with them lasted through the 1960s and he was the first act signed to Apple Records, thanks to George Harrison. The resulting album is called "That's the Way God Planned It."

In 1971, Preston played in "The Concert for Bangladesh." Last year, in one of his final appearances, he performed at a reunion in Los Angeles for the release of the Bangladesh DVD with Clapton and Harrison's son Dhani on guitar.

More recently, Billy can be heard on the latest albums by Neil Diamond and Red Hot Chili Peppers. He's also featured on the Starbucks soul album "Believe to My Soul," featuring Mavis Staples and Ann Peebles.

I had the good fortune to know Billy the last few years, and saw him perform — as chronicled in this column — last August at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut and last October at the Atlantis in the Bahamas.

He was one of those spectacular performers who put everything into his show, even though he had no working kidneys by then and was receiving dialysis. He was a warm, wonderful human being with a mile-wide smile. He was also a genius musician, the likes of whom we will not see again.

Rest in peace, Billy. You deserve it.

Roger Friedman

Gleaned from FoxNews.com

[Tenacious_Peaches]

Oh, no, that's terrible news. Rest in peace, Billy. You will be missed.

[RonJonSurfer]

I still own the 45 of "Outta Space"...I love it.

Sad News.

[daslied]

Damn, that really sucks. R.I.P., Billy.

[Mike]

AP reports Singer-Songwriter Billy Preston Dead at 59

PHOENIX (AP) -- Billy Preston, the exuberant keyboardist who landed dream gigs with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and enjoyed his own series of hit singles, including "Outta Space" and "Nothing From Nothing," died Tuesday at 59.

Preston's longtime manager, Joyce Moore, said Preston had been in a coma since November in a care facility and was taken to a hospital in Scottsdale Saturday after his condition deteriorated.

"He had a very, very beautiful last few hours and a really beautiful passing," Moore said by telephone from Germany. "He went home good."

Preston, who had battled chronic kidney failure, had undergone a kidney transplant in 2002, but the kidney failed and he has been on dialysis treatments ever since, Moore said earlier this year.

Known for his big smile and towering afro, Preston was a teen prodigy on the piano and organ, and lent his gospel-tinged touch to classics such as the Beatles' "Get Back" and the Stones' "Can't You Hear Me Knocking?"

He broke out as a solo artist in the 1970s, winning a best instrumental Grammy in 1973 for "Outta Space," and scoring other hits with "Will It Go 'Round In Circles," "Nothing From Nothing" and "With You I'm Born Again," a duet with Syreeta Wright.

source

Edited June 6, 2006 by Guest

[Shawna]

Our local radio station did a tribute to him today. I never knew who did those songs but I always liked them. RIP.

[RonJonSurfer]

Nice bio here:

Singer/Songwriter Billy Preston Dies

The keyboard player performed with The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Sly & The Family Stone.

Singer-Songwriter Billy Preston Dead at 59

By Stephanie Cole

Famous keyboard player Billy Preston, who was also known as the "Fifth Beatle," died Tuesday at the age of 59.

According to online reports, the singer/songwriter died at a Scottsdale, Arizona hospital after suffering from a long illness. The child prodigy had been in a coma since November.

Preston was known as the "Fifth Beatle" because he performed on their 'Abbey Road', 'Let it Be' and 'White' albums. He also toured and recorded with The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Sly & The Family Stone.

The rock legend recently worked with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on their new album 'Stadium Arcadium.' He played the clavinet on the song "Warlocks."

Billy Preston's Biography

Billy Preston's career has spanned five decades, starting as a child prodigy playing the movie role of young W.C. Handy and then playing organ for the likes of Ray Charles and Little Richard. His accomplishments are highlighted by a string of hits, including collaborating with some of the most celebrated names in the music industry, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, The Jackson Five, Sly and the Family Stone, Barbara Streisand, Sammy Davis Jr., Quincy Jones and perhaps the most famous of all, The Beatles.

Billy's relationship with The Beatles led to his signing with Apple Records in the 60's. Billy is widely acknowledged as the "Fifth Beatle" having been the only party to ever have his name included in the label credits of the "Let It Be" and the "Abbey Road" albums as well as the landmark "White Album". Billy also appeared with them in the films "The Complete Beatles" and "Let It Be" as well as performing as part of them during their historic rooftop final concert.

In the late '60s Billy worked with John Lennon and Yoko Ono on their solo "Plastic Ono Band" album as well as Ringo Starr's solo single "Oh My My" and he participated in George Harrison's American Tour. In addition Billy Preston was a leading character in the movie "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" also featuring Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees, performing a stunning version of "Get Back".

Preston's name and fame were solidified as a solo artist when he scored a string of Number 1 hit singles including the Grammy winning "Outta Space", "Will It Go Round In Circles", "Nothing From Nothing" and "Space Race".

A prolific writer, Billy Preston penned the multi-platinum standard "You Are So Beautiful" which was performed by his friend Joe Cocker. He also wrote the title songs for a series of box office champions including "Never Gonna Say Goodbye" "Fast Break" and "O'Hara's Wide". The title song from "Fast Break" became a Preston classic hit when performed as a duet with the late Syreeta Wright. Billy also co-wrote the score for the Sidney Poitier movie "They Call Me Mr. Tibbs" with Quincy Jones.

In recent years Billy Preston was the first black musical director of a late night television show "Nightlife" starring David Brenner, was a regular on the UPN series "Good News" and he made a cameo appearance in "Blues Brothers 2000" as part of the super group that included Eric Clapton and Stevie Winwood and B.B. King among others. Billy's participation in the tribute concert "Concert for George Harrison" at Royal Albert Hall and his performance of "My Sweet Lord" has received critical acclaim.

Billy recorded on the last album his mentor Ray Charles was to record, toured with The Funk Brothers and Stevie Winwood in Europe in early 2004 and then hit the road, touring extensively and garnering rave reviews for his performances with his dear friend Eric Clapton through Europe and North America. Billy's keyboard dominance was highlighted with the release of the "Let It Be--Naked" album issue.

With his extensive touring and studio involvement Billy Preston has found the time to create special project tribute to his dear friends The Beatles. He's even penned two new songs, one in tribute to George Harrison and another to all four of the fab fellows, "John, Paul, George and Ringo". This project along with a historic DVD companion is due for a fall 2004 release with special appearances and bonuses for Beatles fans.

Biography Courtesy of BillyPreston.net

[RonJonSurfer]

Ugliness:::

Billy Preston's Family Upset With Former Manager

His family claims they weren't allowed at his bedside during the last months of his life.

A sister of Billy Preston sent a letter to various media outlets expressing outrage at his former manager, Joyce Moore, who she claims kept her family from being at their brother’s bedside during the last months of his life.

EUR’s Lee Bailey got on the phone with Moore to get a balanced view of the unfortunate situation that threatens to overshadow his passing.

According to a letter written by the musician’s youngest sister Lettie Preston, family members were repeatedly turned away from numerous attempts to visit Billy in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he died early Wednesday morning after being in a coma.

“I have been refused by the hospitals' administration, [who says] his business manager [Moore] has [been] given a "Medical Power of Attorney," with a clause that prohibits family members from being at his bedside,†Lettie Preston writes in the letter, dated March 26, 2006. “This is ludicrous. My brother would never make a decision not see his family at a critical time such as this.â€

Moore, however, says Preston was estranged from his family members. “He was heartbroken by his family. He was saddened by some of the actions of his siblings,†she said, unable to elaborate any further due to current court proceedings.

Moore, the wife and manager of Sam and Dave’s Sam Moore, did have a lot to say about reports of Preston’s medical condition being caused by his longtime drug use, which landed him in jail in the late 1990s.

Lettie Preston wrote in her letter: “Billy has abused drugs since he was a teenager. He has made decisions in his life that were not in his best interest, because they were drug-driven. The family has always gone to his aid to help him in those weak moments. I believe his manager has manipulated my brother, knowing he was a drug addict, extremely ill, and depressed after the death of his mother.â€

Moore, who says she personally helped Billy throughout his illnesses, claims the piano prodigy’s condition was caused solely by high blood pressure.

"I’m tired of reading and hearing that it was a drug problem that caused his illnesses, it’s a lie,†she says. “It’s a flat out lie. It’s not fair to him; it’s not fair to his memory.â€

Moore says Billy’s death was the result of a one time bout of pericarditis, a condition that occurs when the sac surrounding the heart becomes inflamed. She says it is easily treated with anti-inflammatory or steroid medication, but doctors in Los Angeles failed to address it “despite a lot of calls and begging and pleading to physicians to deal with it,†she says.

“It was diagnosed while he was in Los Angeles taking care of some personal issues last November,†she says. “It ultimately led him to go into respiratory failure, which caused the coma.â€

Preston had also been ill with kidney failure and was hospitalized often due to complications from the disease and infections from the dialysis procedures. According to Moore, Preston was not comfortable with the doctors and hospitals in Los Angeles, and made her promise to carry him back to Scottsdale on her back if she had to in the event of him becoming ill in L.A.

“It was his absolute demand, direction and desire to be able to return for what he felt was the best quality and best opportunity of care afforded to him at [scottsdale’s] Mayo Clinic,†said Moore. “He was deathly afraid of doctors and hospitals in Los Angeles, and you know what, unfortunately, it was almost like a prophecy. He was right [to be afraid]."

Preston eventually made it back in Scottsdale, but his family was still getting the runaround in their failed attempts to find him, Lettie Preston writes in her letter. After hearing that her brother was transferred to Scottsdale Healthcare Shea hospital, she arrived at the facility only to be told she needed documentation authorizing her visit, she says.

“I immediately called my sister Rodena Preston Williams and had her fax over our document from the Los Angeles courts giving our family access to our brother,†Lettie writes in her letter. “The papers were reviewed by the hospital's attorney. The reply was the papers had no jurisdiction in Arizona. I was then told that my brother had been transported [there] and was in the facility, but I could not visit him without proper documentation.â€

Moore says she knows the reason why Preston is estranged from his family, but can not comment due to the court gag order. However, she expressed being “stupefied†upon hearing that Preston’s family was attempting to “move the body.â€

“I received a phone call from one of his nephews and he told me that he and the other nephew were in Arizona and were there to do whatever they needed to do to move the body,†she says, believing they were referring to funeral arrangements. “I told them fine, I’d be in touch with them. I wasn’t sure what was involved and was going to try and find out myself. At that point, I was out of the loop because I’m no longer his medical power of attorney, nor his manager.â€

She continues: “Apparently, some family members demanded that the hospital remove Billy’s body from the morgue, from the cooler, from the body bag he was in and demanded that he be returned to the Intensive Care Unit that he had died in. And then they were demanding that his body be ravaged even further with an autopsy.â€

When it is suggested that the family just wanted answers after being denied access to Preston, Moore replied: “He was in the hospital since Oct. 22 of 2005. What could they possibly suspect? I’ve never heard of anything quite like that.â€

Moore, who has known Preston since 1971, says the artist was a “lifelong bachelor†and never had any kids, “which was really unfortunate, too. I feel like it’s a shame that he didn’t have either a son or a daughter to maybe get some of his talent or the legacy, but it wasn’t to be,†she says.

When it came to his one-on-one connection with people, Moore sums up Preston’s personality with one word: effervescent.

“He just bubbled. He had a very, very special order about him,†she says. “He could be pissy, he could be cantankerous and obstinate and hard to get along with at times, but basically, Billy had a good heart.

Despite Moore’s fond memories and kind words, it’s pretty obvious that the family will not invite her to Preston’s funeral, to be held in Los Angeles.

“I don’t see myself being welcome,†she says. “Would I like to attend? I want to say goodbye to him. I want to say goodbye to my friend. I really would like everyone to know just how much of an amazing human being Billy P. was.â€

Copyright 2006 EUR Web

[The Seeker]

It's terrible to hear that he died. I didn't know he was ill.

[Photon]

I always thought Peter Best was the 5th beatle....

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