William Everett Preston (September 2, 1946 â€" June 6, 2006) was an
American musician whose work encompassed R&B, rock, soul, funk, and
gospel. Preston was a top session keyboardist in the 1960s, during
which he backed artists such as Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Ray
Charles, Everly Brothers, Reverend James Cleveland, and the Beatles.
He went on to achieve fame as a solo artist with hit singles such as
"That's the Way God Planned It", the Grammy-winning "Outa-Space",
"Will It Go Round in Circles", "Space Race", "Nothing from Nothing",
and "With You I'm Born Again". Additionally, Preston co-wrote "You Are
So Beautiful", which became a #5 hit for Joe Cocker.Preston was one of
five musicians credited on a Beatles recording other than the group's
four members. Preston continued to record and perform with other
artists, notably George Harrison after the Beatles' breakup, and Eric
Clapton, and he played keyboards for the Rolling Stones on many of the
group's albums and tours during the 1970s.Preston was born September
2, 1946, in Houston and moved to Los Angeles as a child with his
mother, Robbie Lee Williams. Noted as a child prodigy, Preston was
entirely self-taught and never had a music lesson. By the age of ten,
he was playing organ onstage backing several gospel singers such as
Mahalia Jackson. At 11, Preston appeared on an episode of Nat King
Cole's NBC TV show singing the Fats Domino hit "Blueberry Hill" with
Cole. He also appeared in St. Louis Blues, the 1958 W. C. Handy biopic
starring Nat King Cole; Preston played Handy at a younger age.
American musician whose work encompassed R&B, rock, soul, funk, and
gospel. Preston was a top session keyboardist in the 1960s, during
which he backed artists such as Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Ray
Charles, Everly Brothers, Reverend James Cleveland, and the Beatles.
He went on to achieve fame as a solo artist with hit singles such as
"That's the Way God Planned It", the Grammy-winning "Outa-Space",
"Will It Go Round in Circles", "Space Race", "Nothing from Nothing",
and "With You I'm Born Again". Additionally, Preston co-wrote "You Are
So Beautiful", which became a #5 hit for Joe Cocker.Preston was one of
five musicians credited on a Beatles recording other than the group's
four members. Preston continued to record and perform with other
artists, notably George Harrison after the Beatles' breakup, and Eric
Clapton, and he played keyboards for the Rolling Stones on many of the
group's albums and tours during the 1970s.Preston was born September
2, 1946, in Houston and moved to Los Angeles as a child with his
mother, Robbie Lee Williams. Noted as a child prodigy, Preston was
entirely self-taught and never had a music lesson. By the age of ten,
he was playing organ onstage backing several gospel singers such as
Mahalia Jackson. At 11, Preston appeared on an episode of Nat King
Cole's NBC TV show singing the Fats Domino hit "Blueberry Hill" with
Cole. He also appeared in St. Louis Blues, the 1958 W. C. Handy biopic
starring Nat King Cole; Preston played Handy at a younger age.
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