Agent 00Soul Billy Preston

Billy Preston

Source: Sopitas

Soul music is basically a combo of gospel and R&B. Keyboardist, Billy Preston was an American "soul instrumentalist" who worked with the enemy during the British Invasion, specifically, both the Beatles and Rolling Stones. By that time the Beatles were in capitulation and Preston was added to the crew to make a softer landing. Preston is often referred to as a "fifth Beatle" arriving to the band's last days. The other "fifth Beatle" famous as such was drummer, Pete Best, who got swapped for Ringo Starr at the emergence of the band nigh a decade earlier.

As for the Stones, though Americans might have been a lot of napping sleepy heads when it came to rock upon their invasion several months after the Beatles in 1964, they had awakened a foe too resistant to bother fighting anymore by the latter sixties. Not like they didn't know what they were dealing with, attacking America with R&B that had been around perhaps a couple decades already. But only half a decade after the first British assaults the war was taking its toll. Top generals of the Invasion in the Beatles' war rooms came to division between themselves before the States could be wholly conquered. What had appeared like the States' imminent and utter defeat only half a decade earlier had eventually become a nightmare of American musicians fighting back with no surrender looking likely. Rather than retreat or tumble like the Beatles, the diplomatic Stones decided to just shake hands with good will ambassador, Billy Preston. Treaties between British, American and German recording industries had been around since the turn of the century anyway, merging and reemerging into labels like Victor and His Majesty's Voice.

Born on 2 September 1946 in Houston to become an organ, then Hammond B3 organ, player, Preston was first recorded at age eleven on the 'Nat King Cole Show' in 1957, rendering a duet of 'Blueberry Hill' with Cole [Paley]. His first record releases are thought to have been in 1961 with Contract Records: 'My Kind of Music' b/w with 'There's a Brand New Picture' (5101) and 'Volcano' b/w 'Young Heartaches' (5102).

'Blueberry Hill'   Billy Preston w Nat King Cole   Television

'Nat King Cole Show' broadcast 5 Nov 1957

Music: Vincent Rose   Lyrics: Larry Stock / Al Lewis

'Volcano'   Billy Preston w Nat King Cole

Issued on Contract 5102 in 1961

Composition: Dave Franklin

In 1962 Preston contributed organ to 'This Sunday In Person!', an album released by gospel singer, James Cleveland. Preston also toured Europe with Little Richard in 1962, meeting the Beatles for the first time in Hamburg.

'It All Belongs To My Father'   Billy Preston w James Cleveland & the Angelic Choir

From the album 'This Sunday In Person' issued on Savoy Records MG-14059

Composition: James Cleveland / Thurston Frazier

In 1963 Preston released 'Greazee' on his debut album, '16 Yr. Old Soul' (reissued as 'Greazee Soul' in 1969).

'Greazee'   Billy Preston

From the album '16 Yr. Old Soul' issued in June 1963 on Derby Records LPM-701

Composition: J.W. Alexander / Fred Smith / Billy Preston

In 1964 Preston participated in 'It's a Blessing' b/w 'Since I Found Him' by the Cogic (Church Of God In Christ) Singers issued on Simpson Records RS-273, later issued on the album 'It's a Blessing', in 1966.

'Since I Found Him'   Billy Preston w the Cogic Singers

Simpson Records RS-273 in 1964   On the album 'It's a Blessing' issued 1966

Composition: Andrae Crouch

Preston issued three 45s in 1965 on Vee-Jay, as well as six singles on Oldies 45 with flip sides shared by other artists. He also released his second and third albums in 1965, 'The Most Exciting Organ Ever' followed by 'Early Hits of 1965'. Come 'Wildest Organ In Town!' in 1966. Nineteen more studio albums would follow to as late as 'You and I' in 1997 in addition to his 'Live European Tour' recorded in autumn 1973 and six gospel albums from 1965 ('Hymns Speak From the Organ') to 2001 ('Music From My Heart').

'If I Had a Hammer'   Billy Preston

Opening track to the album 'The Most Exciting Organ Ever'

Recorded Sep 1964   Issued 20 August 1965

Composition: Lee Hays / Pete Seeger

'Billy's Bag'   Billy Preston

From the album 'The Most Exciting Organ Ever'

Recorded Sep 1964   Issued 20 August 1965

Composition: Billy Preston

'Agent Double-O-Soul'   Billy Preston   Television

'Shindig!' broadcast 8 September 1965

Composition: Edwin Starr   1964

'Agent Double-O-Soul'   Billy Preston w Ray Charles   Television

'Ed Sullivan Show' broadcast 3 Dec 1967

Composition: Edwin Starr   1964

Preston signed on with Apple Records owned by the Beatles on 31 January 1969 after being asked to join the Beatles' 'Let It Be' album sessions in latter January, commonly referred to as the 'Get Back' sessions. This album required 30 days to record, during which differences between Lennon and McCartney were making it difficult to get forward with getting back. George Harrison reasoned that Preston's presence might quell uneasy waters and asked him to join them in the studio on electric piano on 22 January of 1969. Of the fifteen jams recorded that day Preston appeared on fourteen of them (both he and Lennon out on 'Carol') [see "22" at Beatles Bible]. The 'Get Back' sessions are so-called prior to eventually naming the album, 'Let It Be'. Preston spent a week recording with the Beatles, then accompanied them at their last public performance on January 30 1969 atop the roof of Apple headquarters in London. Preston also participated in the Beatles' album, 'Abbey Road' (1969). 'Let It Be' was recorded before 'Abbey Road' though its release came afterward. As to Preston's earlier presence on the Beatles' 'White Album' released in 1968, there has been considerable discussion amidst what appears a greater consensus that such is so unlikely as to ignore the possibility altogether.

'Love Me Do'   Billy Preston w the Beatles

Unissued jam recorded 28 Jan 1969 [Beatles Bible]

Composition: Paul McCartney / John Lennon

'Don't Let Me Down'   Billy Preston w the Beatles

Apple Rooftop Concert filmed 30 Jan 1969

Composition: Paul McCartney / John Lennon

Preston's relationship with the Rolling Stones began soon after working with the Beatles, contributing to 'Can't You Hear Me Knocking' and 'I Got the Blues' on the 'Sticky Fingers' album of 1971, and 'Shine a Light' on 'Exile On Main Street' of 1972. Preston was the Stones' principal keyboardist until 1977 as he pursued his own career with A&M Records beginning in 1971 with the album, 'I Wrote a Simple Song' containing 'Outa-Space'. Come 'Music Is My Life' in 1972 holding 'Will It Go Round in Circles'. 'Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music' arrived in 1973 containing 'Space Race'. 'The Kids & Me' of 1974 featured 'Nothing from Nothing'. Preston placed four titles on Billboard's Top Ten from 1972 to 1974: ' Outa-Space' reached #1 in R&B and #2 on the Hot 100 in April 1972. 'Will It Go Round in Circles' topped the Hot 100 at #1 and #10 in R&B in March of 1973. 'Space Race' came to #1 in R&B and #4 on the Hot 100 in September of 1973. 'Nothing From Nothing' arrived to #1 on the Hot 100 and #8 in R&B in April of 1974. Preston also joined the Stones on various later issues such as 'Tattoo You' in 1981 and 'Bridges to Babylon' in 1997.

'The Master's Child'   Billy Preston   Television

WNET broadcast of 'Soul!'   Televised concert of 28 Feb 1973

Guitar: George Johnson   Keyboards: Hubert Heard

Bass guitar: Louis Johnson   Drums: Manuel Kellough

'Nothing From Nothing'   Billy Preston

Issued on A&M 1544-S on 3 August 1974

Composition: Billy Preston / Bruce Fisher

'That's Life'   Billy Preston w the Rolling Stones

Recorded at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on June 17, 1975 [Setlist]

Issued on the album 'Luxury In Toronto' VGP-267-1/2

Composition: Billy Preston

'Outta Space'   Billy Preston w the Rolling Stones

Recorded at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on June 17, 1975 [Setlist]

Issued on the album 'Luxury In Toronto' VGP-267-1/2

Composition: Billy Preston / Joe Greene

Preston moved to Motown Records in 1979, releasing his first duet with Syreeta Wright that year: 'Go For It' b/w 'With You I'm Born Again'. The latter title charted at #2 in Adult Contemporary, #2 on the Hot 100 and #2 in the UK. Last issuing with Motown in 1986, Preston spent the rest of the eighties doing session work.

'With You I'm Born Again'   Billy Preston w Syreeta Wright

Television prob Dec 1979

Charted on Motown 1477 in Dec 1979 #2 AC / #4 Hot 100 / #2 UK

Composition: Carol Connors / David Shire

'How Great Thou Art'   Billy Preston

From 'A Gospel Music Celebration'

Filmed in Los Angeles toward release April 1988 [IMDb]

Composition: From the 1885 Swedish hymn 'O Store Gud' ('O Great God') by Carl Boberg

In 1990 Preston toured with both Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr before joining The Band, which relationship ended with double whammy trouble in 1991, first for insurance fraud, setting fire to his home in Los Angeles, then for sexual assault with a 16-year old male Mexican day laborer. He was sentenced to nine months drug rehabilitation (cocaine) and three months of house arrest.

Preston released the albums 'Billy's Back' in 1995 and 'You and I' in 1997 with the Italian band, Novecento. His last years into the new millennium were as active as possible while afflicted with kidney disease.

'Will It Go Round In Circles'   Billy Preston w Ringo Starr

Filmed live at Nippon Budokan Hall in Japan 27 June 1995

Composition: Billy Preston / Bruce Fisher   1972

'You Are So Beautiful'   Billy Preston w Novecento

From the album 'You and I'   1997

Guitar: Lino Nicolosi   Keyboards: Pino Nicolosi

Bass: Rossana Nicolosi   Vocal: Dora Nicolosi

Composition: Billy Preston / Bruce Fisher   1974

'Isn't It a Pity'   Billy Preston

From 'Concert for George' at Royal Albert Hall in London 29 Nov 2002

Musical direction by Eric Clapton [Wikipedia]

Composition: George Harrison   1970

Preston is thought to have last recorded with Eric Clapton and JJ Cale for the 2006 release of the album, 'Escondido'. His last live performance arrived the same year at a Los Angeles concert with Dhani Harrison (son of George) and Ringo Starr.

Preston died of kidney failure on June 6 of 2006 in Scottsdale, Arizona, not yet sixty years of age. In addition to mentions above, among his numerous compositions were such as 'Little Girl' (1970), 'Slaughter' (1972) and 'We're Gonna Make It' (1972).