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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5155 Posts |
 Posted - 06/06/2006 : 11:54:54
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Billy Preston's Sad Passing
June 6th, 2006
BY ROGER FRIEDMAN
'FIFTH BEATLE' BILLY PRESTON DEAD AT AGE 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 21st, but was still struggling to recover. He died at Shea Scottsdale Hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona 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's 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 included "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 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 Bangla Desh." Last year, in one of his final appearances, he performed at a reuion in Los Angeles for the release of the Bangla Desh DVD with Ringo 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.
-Brian
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 12:04:34
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Sad. I only no him from working with The Beatles. Didn't know he played on The White Album. RIP.
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El Loco
- FB Fan -
206 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 12:51:00
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| FUCK! |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 13:09:19
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| Great performer. "Nothing from Nothing" was my favorite song when I was 8. RIP. |
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vilainde
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Niue
7443 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 13:41:21
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How many "Fifth Beatles" were there exactly? That's at least the 3rd fifth Beatle I hear of. Sad news nonetheless.
Denis
I love Guitar Wolf from the Erath! |
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Steak n Sabre
* Dog in the Sand *
Uzbekistan
1013 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 14:06:35
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Sad news indeed. I'd say he was more like the 7th Beatle.
 The Cult of Frank : The Official Cult of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.. |
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mosleyk
= Cult of Ray =
USA
607 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 09:36:56
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| Horribly sad news. I also heard that the Red Hot Chili Peppers called him in when they were recording their last album just so they could have him playing the tamborine. That is how awesome he was! |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 13:34:36
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quote:
How many "Fifth Beatles" were there exactly?
As many as there were Fifth Catholics?
"If you doze much longer, then life turns to dreaming. If you doze much longer, then dreams turn to nightmares." |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 15:48:36
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Let It Be is one of my fave albums, its awesome.
__________
Don't believe the hype. |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 17:13:13
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Pedophile.
Hank the 8th was a duplicated man
-bRIAN |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 17:13:57
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But quite talented.
Hank the 8th was a duplicated man
-bRIAN |
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mosleyk
= Cult of Ray =
USA
607 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 17:14:24
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| Carolynanna have you heard of the documentary "the complete beatles"? There is a nice segment in it about the making of "Let It Be" and the contribution of billy preston. |
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 17:24:02
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quote:
Originally posted by mosleyk
Carolynanna have you heard of the documentary "the complete beatles"? There is a nice segment in it about the making of "Let It Be" and the contribution of billy preston.
That is a great documentary, made in the early 80's if I recall. They used to show it on TV all the time.
Have you ever heard of a documentary "The Rutles"? That group seemed like such a rip-off, and it was like they were trying to mirror the Beatles, or something...it was totally unbelievable, and it seemed like someone, some comedy troupe or something, was trying to make a spoof or something. Even their songs sounded like funny Beatle songs. Totally rediculous.
Hank the 8th was a duplicated man
-bRIAN |
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mosleyk
= Cult of Ray =
USA
607 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 17:26:49
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yes...it was made in the 80's. I remember getting it for a Christmas present when I was in high school. I still bring it out from time to time for a listen. I think in honor of Preston...it will emerge against from its dust collecting spot.
I haven't heard of the Rutles, but it sounds like a Spinal Tap of a good time. Thanks for the tip I will have to see if I can find a copy. |
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5155 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 17:45:16
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The Rutles is great - The Rutles 2 is garbage.
-Brian
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 18:55:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Broken Face
The Rutles is great - The Rutles 2 is garbage.
-Brian
Yes. Their second album, ARCHEOLOGY (1996?) was terrible. It wasn't even funny...like they seriously were trying to do serious stuff. Off the subject, in 1997-98, I and friends would go see a Beatles cover band called The Fab Four at this little bar in Orange County every Wednesday night from 7-10pm. They were great, and the best was it was free (but you had to drink...that was the hard part, I tell you). These four guys did three acts, each set an hour long, and would change costumes between each to go along with the music period. They played everything note for note, even orchestral stuff (keyboard, albiet, but nonetheless, perfectly matching sounds!)...nothing was sampled or prerecorded. They were simply tremendous. Now they're actually kinda high profile and charge way too much, but that's okay. They deserve it after years of honing. And even further off the subject, has anyone heard Julian Lennon's 1999 album Photograph Smile? I think it's really good.
Ooops...oh yeah...RIP BP.
Hank the 8th was a duplicated man
-bRIAN |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2006 : 06:59:22
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quote:
Originally posted by TRANSMARINE
Their second album, ARCHEOLOGY (1996?) was terrible. It wasn't even funny...like they seriously were trying to do serious stuff.
Oh no. That sounds like a terrible idea. I mean, it would be impossible for Spinal Tap to do a serious album. Actually, if they tried, it would even funnier. I've heard that The Rutles movie is not that funny. I've seen a few brief clips, including the scene with George Harrison's cameo as a reporter.
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5155 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2006 : 07:04:29
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I was actually refering to the 'sequel' The Ruttles 2 - Can't Buy Me Lunch. It was basically a bunch of celebrities being interviewed as if they were fans of the band. But i've heard ARCHEOLOGY was terrible too.
-Brian
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2006 : 08:09:50
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The Rutles is hilarious.
Hank the 8th was a duplicated man
-bRIAN |
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R.I.P. Billy Preston
