MORE NEWS

Sam Moore's video tribute to Billy -- watch it on Amazon Entertainment

November 21 is the unfortunate anniversary of Billy suffering respiratory arrest that caused him to fall into a coma....

Remember: Billy Preston should have turned 60 this September 2nd. Let's all celebrate Billy on that day. Watch for further details...

Story on the funeral from SF Gate

Bermuda Fans mourn...

Article in Stereophile

Click here to watch a video clip of a Chicago DJ remembering Billy.

Rolling Stone article

BBC News article

VH1 News

Ultimate Oldies - Listen to a one hour tribute show

Jay Michaels : Ode to Billy Preston

Stephan Koenig's blog

To see the powerful and hard-hitting pleadings filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court to preserve the legacy of Billy Preston, Please Click Here

For the Set Aside Reply, click here.


FANS CAN MAKE DONATIONS IN BILLY's MEMORY TO The American Kidney Foundation and Musicares


Condolences and Honorariums


To see the powerful and hard-hitting pleadings filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court to preserve the legacy of Billy Preston, Please Click Here

CORRECTIONS (from various news reports.)
Billy Preston's correct date of birth was September 2, 1946, not the 9th as is constantly reported.

He did not go into the coma due to kidney failure or a failed transplant. He was not properly treated for pericarditas while in the Los Angeles area and suffered respiratory arrest holding Joyce Moore's hand for dear life itself, in the ICU unit of a local LA hospital on November 21, 2005, from which he never fully recovered.


Billy Preston: Labor Day Weekend of Love

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- August 31, 2006 -- The late Billy Preston would have turned 60 on September 2nd. According to his dear friend and manager, Joyce Moore, he was really looking forward to marking the milestone birthday and had started planning a television special and big concert to celebrate the event.

Tragically the world lost Billy on June 6th.

Moore and her husband, the legendary Sam Moore, are asking radio around the world to begin playing his last recording on his birthday, this Saturday, September 2nd at noon to celebrate and remember Preston and his vast contribution to music.

Before Billy fell ill he participated in the recording of this version of his great Billy Preston authored composition, "You Are So Beautiful," with his dear friend Sam Moore for Sam's newly released (Aug 29, 2006) album "Sam Moore Overnight Sensational." His sudden coma moved Sam, Joyce and the album's producer Randy Jackson to find a way to complete the track as a loving and respectful tribute to their Billy P that includes vocals from both Preston and Moore and the rarely recorded second verse of the song. (The verse Joe Cocker never tracked.)

Eric Clapton, another dear friend of Billy's, was devastated by Billy's sudden critical medical condition and added a passionate and emotional guitar solo to the recording.

Robert Randolph and Zucchero also lent support and love to Billy on the track that Billy heard and reacted with tears welling in his eyes while he was fighting to regain full consciousness in the hospital before he passed.

Sam and Billy likely are the only two artists to ever have performed the song's 2nd verse that so poignantly fits the mood and the moment... "such joy and happiness you bring, such joy and happiness you bring, just like a dream, my guiding light, my shining star, I'm going to love you where ever you are... you are so beautiful to me..."

Preston's career highlights include stints with The Stones, The Family Stone, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Mahalia Jackson, Aretha and of course the last three albums with The Beatles as well as the last ever of their performances on the roof, The Concert for Bangladesh, The Concert for George, tours with Clapton, George, Ringo and a stellar solo career singing and/or playing on monster hits "Out A Space," "Nothing From Nothing" and "Will It Go Round In Circles."

He and Moore were best friends since Billy was a child prodigy and they were out on the road with gospel great Mahalia Jackson.


Billy's passing
BY ROGER FRIEDMAN
6-6-2006

'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, 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 renuion 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.



Pre-orders of Billy's Beatles Tribute will be available through the site June 1st. This CD/DVD release will be an autographed collectors item, so check back soon for details!

DOWNLOAD Billy's latest Beatles Salute EP from iTunes.

SIGN UP FOR BILLY's ONLINE FAN CLUB

HEAR BILLY'S NEW "BEATLES SALUTE" on BEATLE BRUNCH

NEW VIDEOS! Billy talks about influences, the new Beatles Salute CD and more.

Read an article on Billy in the Washington Post.



MORE NEWS

November 21 is the unfortunate anniversary of Billy suffering respiratory arrest that caused him to fall into a coma....

Remember: Billy Preston should have turned 60 this September 2nd. Let's all celebrate Billy on that day. Watch for further details...

Story on the funeral from SF Gate

Bermuda Fans mourn...

Article in Stereophile

Click here to watch a video clip of a Chicago DJ remembering Billy.

Rolling Stone article

BBC News article

VH1 News

Ultimate Oldies - Listen to a one hour tribute show

Jay Michaels : Ode to Billy Preston

Stephan Koenig's blog

FANS CAN MAKE DONATIONS IN BILLY's MEMORY TO The American Kidney Foundation and Musicares


Condolences and Honorariums


To see the powerful and hard-hitting pleadings filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court to preserve the legacy of Billy Preston, Please Click Here

CORRECTIONS (from various news reports.)
Billy Preston's correct date of birth was September 2, 1946, not the 9th as is constantly reported.

He did not go into the coma due to kidney failure or a failed transplant. He was not properly treated for pericarditas while in the Los Angeles area and suffered respiratory arrest holding Joyce Moore's hand for dear life itself, in the ICU unit of a local LA hospital on November 21, 2005, from which he never fully recovered.


Billy Preston: Labor Day Weekend of Love

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- August 31, 2006 -- The late Billy Preston would have turned 60 on September 2nd. According to his dear friend and manager, Joyce Moore, he was really looking forward to marking the milestone birthday and had started planning a television special and big concert to celebrate the event.

Tragically the world lost Billy on June 6th.

Moore and her husband, the legendary Sam Moore, are asking radio around the world to begin playing his last recording on his birthday, this Saturday, September 2nd at noon to celebrate and remember Preston and his vast contribution to music.

Before Billy fell ill he participated in the recording of this version of his great Billy Preston authored composition, "You Are So Beautiful," with his dear friend Sam Moore for Sam's newly released (Aug 29, 2006) album "Sam Moore Overnight Sensational." His sudden coma moved Sam, Joyce and the album's producer Randy Jackson to find a way to complete the track as a loving and respectful tribute to their Billy P that includes vocals from both Preston and Moore and the rarely recorded second verse of the song. (The verse Joe Cocker never tracked.)

Eric Clapton, another dear friend of Billy's, was devastated by Billy's sudden critical medical condition and added a passionate and emotional guitar solo to the recording.

Robert Randolph and Zucchero also lent support and love to Billy on the track that Billy heard and reacted with tears welling in his eyes while he was fighting to regain full consciousness in the hospital before he passed.

Sam and Billy likely are the only two artists to ever have performed the song's 2nd verse that so poignantly fits the mood and the moment... "such joy and happiness you bring, such joy and happiness you bring, just like a dream, my guiding light, my shining star, I'm going to love you where ever you are... you are so beautiful to me..."

Preston's career highlights include stints with The Stones, The Family Stone, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Mahalia Jackson, Aretha and of course the last three albums with The Beatles as well as the last ever of their performances on the roof, The Concert for Bangladesh, The Concert for George, tours with Clapton, George, Ringo and a stellar solo career singing and/or playing on monster hits "Out A Space," "Nothing From Nothing" and "Will It Go Round In Circles."

He and Moore were best friends since Billy was a child prodigy and they were out on the road with gospel great Mahalia Jackson.


Billy's passing
BY ROGER FRIEDMAN
6-6-2006

'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, 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 renuion 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.



Pre-orders of Billy's Beatles Tribute will be available through the site June 1st. This CD/DVD release will be an autographed collectors item, so check back soon for details!

DOWNLOAD Billy's latest Beatles Salute EP from iTunes.

SIGN UP FOR BILLY's ONLINE FAN CLUB

HEAR BILLY'S NEW "BEATLES SALUTE" on BEATLE BRUNCH

NEW VIDEOS! Billy talks about influences, the new Beatles Salute CD and more.

Read an article on Billy in the Washington Post.



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