June 6, 200619 yr http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/06/06/D8I2RTD00.html PHOENIX 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.
June 9, 200619 yr I saw Preston a couple of times as an opening act in the 70's. Sorry to hear this. RIP.
June 9, 200619 yr QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Jun 8, 2006 -> 03:36 PM) We must all burn every existing copy of that awful, awful movie Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band this week. RIP Billy... I fixed that for you.
June 9, 200619 yr QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Jun 9, 2006 -> 06:50 AM) I fixed that for you. Aerosmith is decent in it, and that's about where it all ends.
June 9, 200619 yr QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Jun 9, 2006 -> 07:50 AM) Aerosmith is decent in it, and that's about where it all ends. You mean you didn't like Peter Frampton's performance?
June 9, 200619 yr QUOTE(YASNY @ Jun 9, 2006 -> 08:46 AM) You mean you didn't like Peter Frampton's performance? I always hated Frampton, until I heard him with Humble Pie. Then I only like him sporatically, and then get to dislike him for leaving a killer band to go play really bad music.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.