Billy Preston: 1946-2006

Legendary keyboard player Billy Preston has died at the age of 59 after being in a coma for the past six months due to kidney failure.

Although Preston was best known for his keyboards and vocals on the last three Beatles albums, he was also sought after for both studio and live performance work by the likes of Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Elton John and Aretha Franklin, to name just a very few of a long list of artists. He continued recording as long as his poor health allowed, last performing on a Red Hot Chili Peppers album that was released in May.

Preston was in his teens when he began touring with artists like Sam Cooke and Little Richard. He had several hits of his own during the '70s, and co-wrote "You Are So Beautiful," which was a career maker for Joe Cocker. In 1975 Preston was chosen as the first musical act ever to perform on Saturday Night Live.

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_{Photo by Mieke Kramer, courtesy Rhino Media}