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Billy Preston
When Billy (born 1946 in Houston/TX) was three, the family moved to Los Angeles, where Preston began playing piano. Noted as a child prodigy, Preston was entirely self-taught and never had a music lesson. By the age of ten, Preston was playing organ onstage backing several gospel singers. In 1962, Billy joined Little Richard's band as an organist, and it was while performing in Hamburg that he met The Beatles. In 1963, he played the organ on Sam Cooke's Night Beat album. That year, he also released his own debut album. In 1967, he joined Ray Charles' band. Following this exposure, several musicians began asking Billy to contribute to their sessions.
Signed to the Beatles' Apple Records label, in 1969, Billy released the album That's the Way God Planned It, produced by Harrison. He appeared on several of Harrison's 1970s solo albums. In 1971, Preston left Apple and signed with Herb Alpert's A&M Records. Following the release of I Wrote a Simple Song on A&M, Preston's solo career peaked at this time. The song reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped Billboard??'?s R&B chart, before going on to win the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. "Outa-Space" sold over 1 million copies in America, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA in June 1972. Over the next two years, Preston followed up with hits like "Will It Go Round in Circles", "Nothing From Nothing", and "Space Race". From 1970, Billy played keyboards (including piano, organ, clavinet and various synthesizers) for the Rolling Stones. As the band's primary touring keyboardist from 1973 to 1977, he also performed as a support act with his own band on their 1973 European Tour. A München performance was documented in the live album Live European Tour 1973. In 1974, along with Beach Boy Dennis Wilson, he composed one of Joe Cocker's biggest hits, "You Are So Beautiful". Preston's solo career began to decline after 1976. After five years with A&M, he signed with Motown Records. In 1980, he duetted with Syreeta Wright on the ballad "With You I'm Born Again", which reached number 4 on the charts in the US. Failing thereafter to match its success, Preston left Motown in 1984 and focused on session work. He served as musical director for Nightlife, a late-night talk show hosted by David Brenner that lasted one season from 1986 1987. In 1997, Billy Preston recorded the album You and I, in Italy, with Italian band Novecento. The album was produced by Vaughn De Spenza and Novecento members Lino and Pino Nicolosi. While touring and fighting his own health problems, Preston received the news that on November 29, 2001, George Harrison had died. Billy, among many of Harrison's longtime friends, performed in the 2002 Concert for George at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Ringo Starr called him one of the greatest Hammond players of all time. In 2004, Preston toured with the Funk Brothers and Steve Winwood in Europe, and then with his friend Eric Clapton in Europe and North America. After he finished touring with Clapton, Preston went to France. Preston's final recorded contributions were the gospel-tinged organ on the Neil Diamond album 12 Songs (2005), and his keyboard work on The Road to Escondido (2006) by Eric Clapton and J. J. Cale. In late 2005, Billy made his last public performance, in Los Angeles, to support the re-release of the Concert for Bangla Desh (1972) movie. Billy had battled kidney disease in his later years. He received a kidney transplant in 2002, but his health continued to deteriorate. He died on 06 June 2006, in Scottsdale/AZ. from Wikipedia |
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homepage: | www.billypreston.net |
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16 Yr. Old Soul Derby Records LPM-701 released 1963 1969 issued as "Greazee Soul" recorded February/March 1963 in Hollywood, CA/USA |
Billy Preston, piano, organ Gene Edwards, guitar Tommy Tedesco, guitar Cliff Hils, bass Earl Palmer, drums Milt Turner, drums |
The Most Exciting Organ Ever Vee Jay Records VJS-1123 released 1964 recorded September 1964 |
Billy Preston, organ further details unknown |
Early Hits of 1965 Vee Jay Records VJS-1142 released 1965 recorded March to September 1965 |
Billy Preston, organ |
Wildest Organ In Town Motorola ST2532 released 1966 recorded September 1965 |
Billy Preston, organ, piano further details unknown |
That's the Way God Planned It Apple Records ST-3359 released 1969 recorded late 1968 & April-July 1969 in Los Angeles, CA/USA and London/GB |
Billy Preston, vocals, piano, organ, piano George Harrison, guitars, Moog synthesizer, sitar Eric Clapton, guitar Keith Richards, bass Ginger Baker, drums, tambourine John Barham, string arrangements |
Encouraging Words Apple Records ST-3370 released 1970 |
Billy Preston, vocals, Hammond organ, piano, keyboards George Harrison, guitar Eric Clapton, guitar Keith Richards, bass Ginger Baker, drums Doris Troy, backing vocals |
I Wrote A Simple Song A&R Records SP-3507 released 1971 |
Billy Preston, keyboards, vocals Charles Garnett, trumpet George Harrison, guitar Patrice Holloway, vocals Manuel Kellough, drums King Errisson, congas Clydie King, vocals Jesse Kirkland, vocals Myrna Matthews, vocals Rocky Peoples, tenor sax Duane Rogers, vocals David T. Walker, guitar |
Live At Fillmore West ATCO Records SD 33-359 released 1971 recorded March 1971 in San Francisco, CA/USA |
King Curtis, soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax Lou Collins, tenor sax Andrew Love, tenor sax Jimmy Mitchell, baritone sax The Memphis Horns, horn Jack Hale, trombone Roger Hopps, trumpet Wayne Jackson, trumpet Cornell Dupree, guitar Billy Preston, organ Truman Thomas, piano Jerry Jemmott, bass Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, drums Pancho Morales, congas |
Everybody's Talkin' ATCO Records SD33-385 released 1972 recorded August 1970 through July 1971 |
King Curtis, soprano sax, tenor sax, organ, vocals Garnett Brown, horn Ronnie Cuber, horn Jack Hale, horn Roger Hopps, horn Wayne Jackson, horn Ed Logan, horn Andrew Love, horn The Memphis Horns, horn Joe Newman Quartet, horn Marvin Stamm, horn Charles Sullivan, horn Frank Wess, horn Cornell Dupree, guitar Ron Miller, guitar Jim O'Rourke, guitar James Booker, piano Billy Carter, organ Paul Griffin, piano Billy Preston, organ Jimmy Smith, organ Richard Tee, piano Mervin Bronson, bass Harold Cowart, bass Jerry Jemmott, bass Chuck Rainey, bass Ray Lucas, drums Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, drums Kenneth "Spider Webb" Rice, drums Tubby Zeigler, drums Trevor Lawrence, percussion |
Music Is My Life A&R Records SP-3516 released 1972 |
Billy Preston, keyboards, vocals Louis Johnson, bass Manuel Kellough, drums George Johnson, guitar Buck Monari, horn George Bohanon, horn Jim Horn, horn Paul Hubinon, horn Tom Scott, horn Hubert Head, keyboards Campbell Kurban String Section |
Everybody Likes Some Kind Of Music A&R Records SP-3526 released 1973 |
Billy Preston, vocals, keyboards, bass Dennis Coates, banjo Manuel Kellough, drums David T. Walker, guitar Hubert Heard, keyboards Kenneth Lupper, keyboards |
Gospel In My Soul Peacock Records PLP-179 released 1973 |
Billy Preston, organ, piano further details unknown |
Live In Central Park, NYC bootleg recorded 1973 |
Billy Preston, organ, vocals Manuel Kellugh, drums Robert Sam, piano Grady Manning, bass George Johnson, guitar |
Live European Tour A&R Records SLAM 68265 released 1974 recorded live on tour 1973 |
Billy Preston, vocals, Hammond organ, melodica, keyboards Mick Taylor, guitar Hubert Heard, keyboards Kenneth Lupper, keyboards Manuel Kellough, drums, percussion |
The Kids And Me A&R Records SP-3645 released 1974 |
Billy Preston, keyboards Albert Perkins, banjo Bobby Watson, bass Joe Walsh, guitar |
It's My Pleasure A&R Records SP-4532 released 1975 |
Billy Preston, vocals, piano, clavinet, piano, synthesizer Kenny Burke, bass Reggie McBride, bass Rocky Dzidzornu, congas Ollie Brown, drums Hari Georgeson, guitar Kenny Burke, guitar Shuggie Otis, guitar Tony Maiden, guitar Stevie Wonder, harmonica Syreeta Wright, vocals |
Billy Preston A&R Records SP-4587 released 1976 |
Billy Preston, vocals, Hammond organ, piano, clavinet, synthesizer Ollie E. Brown, drums Kenneth Burke - bass Alvin Taylor - drums Steve Beckmeier - guitar Stephanie Spruill - tambourine Jeff Beck - guitar |
A Whole New Thing A&R Records SP-4656 released 1977 |
Billy Preston, keyboards, guitar, bass & percussion, vocals Eugene Henderson, guitar Tony Maiden, guitar Michael McGloiry, guitar Welton Gite, bass Keni Burke, bass Kenneth Moore, keyboards Truman Thomas, keyboards Manuel Kellough, drums Ollie E. Brown, drums Alvin Taylor, drums Bobbye Hall, percussion Angelo Richards, trumpet Wynell Montgomery, sax Charles Garnett, trumpet |
Behold! Myrrh MSB-6605 released 1978 recorded 1978 in Los Angeles, CA/USA |
Billy Preston, keyboards, vocals Robert Lee Hill, bass Preston McRae Wilcox, drums Ronnie Vann, guitar |
Music From The Motion Picture "Fast Break" Motown M7-915R1 released 1979 |
Billy Preston, organ, clavinet, piano, lead vocals Syreeta, lead vocals Abe Laboriel, bass Eddie N. Watkins jr Ed Greene, drums Ollie E. Brown, drums Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin, guitar Mitch Holder, guitar Larry Muhoberac, keyboards Michael Lang, keyboards David Shire, synthsizer David Shire, piano Ernie Watts, alto sax Paulinho Da Costa, percussion Steve Forman, percussion Victor Feldman, percussion Alex Acuna, percussion Gary Coleman, percussion |
Late At Night Motown M7-925R1 released 1979 |
Billy Preston, organ, melodica, piano, harpsichord Chuck Rainey, bass Kenny Burke, bass Robert Lee Hill, bass James Gadson, drums Ollie E. Brown, drums David T. Walker, guitar Paul M. Jackson, guitar Dorothy Ashby, harp Bobbye Hall, percussion Bobby Keyes, sax |
Universal Love Myrrh MSB 6607 released 1980 |
Billy Preston, organ, piano, keyboards further details unknown |
Standing Tall MCA 37240 released 1981 recorded 1981 in Van Nuys, CA/USA |
Louis Johnson, bass Marcus Miller, bass Wilton Felder, bass "Stix" Hooper, drums, percussion David T. Walker, guitar Dean Parks, guitar Jon Goin, guitar Larry Carlton, guitar Reggie Young, guitar Steve Gibsonguitar Barry Finnerty, guitar Joe Sample, keyboards Billy Preston, organ Paulinho Da Costa, percussion Wilton Felder, sax Joe Cocker, vocal |
The Way I Am Motown STML 12148 released 1981 recorded in Detroit, MI/USA |
Billy Preston, piano, Hammond organ, vocals Herman Riley, sax Steve Lukather, guitar Charles Fearing, guitar Marlo Henderson, guitar Paul Jackson jr., guitar Trevor Veitch, guitar David T. Walker, guitar Greg Poree, guitar Melvin "Wah Wah Watson" Ragin, guitar Red Rhodes, guitar Arthur G. Wright, guitar David Paich, piano Steve Porcaro, keyboards William Bryant, keyboards Michael Lang, keyboards David Shire, keyboards Dave Budimir, synthesizer Sonny Burke, keyboards David Hungate, bass Nathan East, bass Abraham Laboriel, bass Reggie McBride, bass Freddie "Ready Freddie" Washington, bass Eddie N. Watkins jr., bass Nathan Watts, bass Les Hurdle, bass Marvin Charlot, bass Jeff Porcaro, drums Ollie E. Brown, drums James Gadson, drums Rick Shlosser, drums |
Pressin' On Motown 6020ML released 1982 |
Billy Preston, keyboards, synthesizer Chuck Rainey, bass Kenny Lewis, bass Louis Johnson, bass Neil Stubenhaus, bass Gary Ferguson, drums James Gadson, drums Steve Schaeffer, drums David T. Walker, guitar George Johnson, guitar Larry Lingle, guitar Thom Rotella, guitar Dorothy Ashby, harp The Heart Attack Horns Bill Mays, keyboards Alan Estes, percussion Bobbye Hall, percussion Paulinho Da Costa, percussion Victor Feldman, percussion |
The Best A&M Records SP-3205 released 1982 compilation |
Billy Preston, Hammond organ, vocals various artists |
On The Air Megatone M-1014 released 1984 recorded October to December 1983 |
Billy Preston, Hammond organ, keyboards, piano, vocals Ralph Benatar, guitar, flute, sax Larry Lingle, guitar James "Tip" Wirrick, scratches Paulinho da Costa, percussion Bobby Vega, bass Kenny Burke, bass |
Billy's Bag Topline TOP 164 released 1987 compilation |
Billy Preston, vocals, Hammond organ, piano, keyboards no further details known |
The Collection Castle Communications CCSCD 210 released 1988 compilation |
Billy Preston, vocals, Hammond organ, piano, keyboards no further details known |
You Can't Keep A Good Man Down D&K 86005 released 1990 recorded in Weesp/The Netherlands |
Billy Preston, keyboards, vocals Saskia Laroo, trumpet Robert Palmer, guitar Bass - Charles Glenn, bass Martino Latupeirissa, percussion |
Queen Of Soul (The Atlantic Recordings) Rhino Records R2 71063 released 1992 compilation |
Aretha Franklin, piano, vocals George Dorsey, alto sax Phil Woods, alto sax Joe Arnold, tenor sax Charles Chalmers, tenor sax Lou Collins, tenor sax Wayne Jackson, tenor sax, trumpet King Curtis, tenor sax Ed Logan, tenor sax Andrew Love, tenor sax David "Fathead" Newman, tenor sax Seldon Powell, tenor sax Frank Wess, tenor sax Pepper Adams, baritone sax Willie Bridges, baritone sax Haywood Henry, baritone sax Floyd Newman, baritone sax Joe Farrell, sax Jimmy Cleveland, trombone Urbie Green, trombone Jack Hale, trombone David Hood, trombone, bass Thomas Mitchell, trombone Benny Powell, trombone Tony Studd, trombone Bernie Glow, trumpet Roger Hopps, trumpet Melvin Lastie, trumpet, cornet Ken Laxton, trumpet Joe Newman, trumpet Ernie Royal, trumpet Richard Gene Williams, trumpet Snooky Young, trumpet Ralph Burns, French Horn, strings, drums Herbert Laws, alto flute Duane Allman, guitar Don Arnone, guitar Eric Clapton, guitar Cornell Dupree, guitar Charlie Freeman, guitar Jay Graydon, guitar Eddie Hinton, guitar Jimmy Johnson, guitar Junior Mance, guitar Hugh McCracken, guitar Chips Moman, guitar Jimmy O'Rourke, guitar Ray Parker jr., guitar Lee Ritenour, guitar Joe South, guitar David Spinozza, guitar Gary Ray Thompson, guitar Phil Upchurch, guitar David T. Walker, guitar Jerry Weaver, guitar Bobby Womack, guitar Barry Beckett, piano Kenneth Bichel, synthesizer, percussion Dave Crawford, organ Jim Dickinson, keyboards Donny Hathaway, organ Bob James, piano Kenneth Lupper, organ Clarence McDonald, keyboards Spooner Oldham, organ, piano, vibes Billy Preston, organ Sylvester Rivers, keyboards Richard Tee, organ Truman Thomas, organ Mike Utley, keyboards Jack Jennings, vibes Neal Rosengarden, vibes Warren Smith, vibes Ted Somers, vibes Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, strings, drums Ron Carter, bass Stanley Clarke, bass Tommy Cogbill, bass Gordon Edwards, bass Eric Gale, bass Jerry Jemmott, bass Tommy McClure, bass Tony Newton, bass Chuck Rainey, bass Joseph Scott, bass Bruno Carr, drums Gene Chrisman, drums Sammy Creason, drums Ed Greene, drums Roger Hawkins, drums Al Jackson jr., drums Quinton Joseph, drums Ray Lucas, drums Rick Marotta, drums Harold Mason, drums Grady Tate, drums Tubby Zeigler, drums Ronald "Tubby" Ziegler, drums Joe Clayton, congas Gary Coleman, percussion Louie Goicdecha, percussion Manuel Gonzales, Latin percussion Ralph MacDonald, percussion Pancho Morales, congas Robert "Pops" Popwell, percussion Ray Charles, vocals James Cleveland, vocals Cissy Houston, vocals The Sweet Inspirations, vocals |
The Quiet Phil Driscoll Music Group 52184 22222 recorded in Hollywood, CA/USA |
Phil Driscoll, trumpet, flugelhorn Michael Thompson, guitar Bill Mason, piano, organ Billy Preston, piano, organ Greg Mathieson, synthesizer Abraham Laboriel, bass Bill Maxwell, drums Alex Acuña, percussion |
Ultimate Collection Hip-O Records 314 541 231-2 compilation |
Billy Preston, organ, vocals no further details known |
New Found Freedom Higher Octave Jazz HOJ42375 recorded in Studio City, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Burbank, CA; Tehachapi, CA; Van Nuys, CA/USA |
Tom Scott, alto sax, tenor sax, harmonica, synthesizer Greg Thomas, tenor sax John Barnes, trumpet, flugelhorn, piano Paul Jackson jr., guitar Craig Chaquico, guitar Larry McGee, guitar Phil Upchurch, guitar Jonathan Butler, guitar Craig T. Cooper, guitar George Duke, piano Gerald McCauley, Fender Rhodes Jerry Peters, Fender Rhodes Kurt Clayton, keyboards Billy Preston, Hammond Organ Mikael Sandgren, synthesizer Alex Al, bass Nathan East, bass Abraham Laboriel sr., bass Marcus Miller, bass Ricky Lawsonm, drums, cymbals Paulinho Da Costa, percussion Luis Conte, conga, percussion Carl Anderson, vocals Michael Cooper, vocals Daniel Rodriguez, vocals Ann Nesby, vocals Valerie Watson, vocals |
Pump It Up ESC Records ESC/EFA 03678-2 recorded December 2001 in Los Angeles, CA and Agoura Hills, CA/USA |
Les McCann, piano, vocals Keith Anderson, alto sax, tenor sax Maceo Parker, alto sax Tom Saviano, alto sax Bill Churchville, trumpet Dean Brown, guitar Paul Jackson jr., guitar Adam Kirk, guitar Tony Maiden, guitar Paul Peterson, guitar Ricky Peterson, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer Billy Preston, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer Abraham Laboriel sr., bass Herbie Lewis, bass Marcus Miller, bass John Robinson, bass, drums Ron Jefferson, drums Paulinho Da Costa, percussion Bonnie Raitt, vocals Dianne Reeves, vocals |
Soul Derby: Complete Vee Jay Recordings 1964/1965 Vampi Soul VAMPI CD 006 compilation |
Billy Preston, organ no further details known |
You And I Nicolosi Productions NIC 90020 recorded 2005 in Italy |
Billy Preston, keyboards Dora Nicolosi, vocals Lino Nicolosi, guitar, keyboards Daniele Comoglio, saxophone Demo Morselli, trumpet Rossana Nicolosi, bass guitar Mimmo Campanale, drums Angelo Pusceddu, percussion |
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