Billy Preston The Fifth Beatle

On June 6, 2006 we lost one of the great keyboard players in rock Billy Preston. Billy was a Grammy award winner with his instrumental song "Outa-Space". He had #1 songs with "Will It Go Round in Circles and "Nothing From Nothing' plus he also wrote You are So Beautiful that was a big hit for Joe Cocker.

His career was quite unique, Billy starting out playing for Little Richard and would eventually team up with The Beatles. He was the only non member of the band to be credited on a Fab Four song. The label for the "Get Back" single reads "The Beatles With Billy Preston,".
Not only did Billy play with The Beatles he performed with Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Al Green, Sly & The Family Stone plus solo projects with George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon. He also did extensive touring with The Rolling Stones.
Billy died at the age of 59. He had pericarditis leading to respiratory failure that left him in a coma.