pesocaster Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 RIP Billy!http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198353,00.html
DavidE Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 Wow. That's a big blow to music as I see it. He was still awesome at the George Harrison tribute thing.
kurtsstuff Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 Damn shame.......another great one takes the dirt nap...RIP Billy!!
Matt Mattson Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 He was still awesome at the George Harrison tribute thing.+1If you can get the DVD set of that, do it, much more on it than the TV program.
elduave Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 Damn. That guy brought a smile to my face everytime I saw him play, and ESPECIALLY on Concert For George. Love him.
cmatthes Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 He's one of those guys who you know instantly when you hear him. A great loss, but he made a helluva contribution in his time.
BadgerDave Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 Damn,I saw him with Eric Clapton a copuple of years ago and he was fantastic. I still remember seeing Billy perform "Will It Go Round in Circles" on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert back in the 70's.
BLuesBuster Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 He was only 59, too young to die. Terrible loss for world music.
JohnnyB Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 It may not be worth renting the video, but one time I was watching "St Louis Blues" on cable several years ago. It was made in 1958, starring Nat King Cole as WC Handy. It's populated by the best of the black musicians of the day -- Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Baily, Eartha Kitt, Mahalia Jackson, Ruby Dee ...Anyway, the thing that really caught my eye was seeing Billy Preston in the opening credits, so I was watching for him. He appeared in a scene of WC Handy as a boy, absolutely ripping on an old upright piano. Preston was 11 or 12 at the time, and it was unmistakably him with that large head and gap-tooth smile.I have the Harrison Concert for Bangladesh DVD set with Billy on it, but don't have the Concert for George. I'll have to look for that one.I still consider his electric piano solo on "Get Back" as one of the coolest ever in pop music.
Hamer95USA Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 Hey guys, My buddy Gary Jackson, ex-bassist for Con Funk Shun(R.I.P.), used to tour with Billy Preston. Billy Preston's contribution to music, especially the Beatles, is immense. What a shame he died at a young age. Guitar George
lonote049 Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 I'm heartbroken. He was a monster musician, a monster and (gulp) only 59.
elduave Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 Playing Concert For George on the store flat screen. Isn't It A Pity indeed.
BruceM Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 I just popped my BP greatest hits cd on, and am jammin' to "Outta Space." What a monster groove player, and definitely part of the soundtrack of my youth. His songs were all over the radio when I was in Jr. High & High School. Definitely a sad day, but these tunes have brought a huge grin to my face.
Sitamoia50 Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 Guess "That's the way god planned It".Seriously,I can remember being a tot(back in the early 70's) and taking the concert for Bangla desh to Sunday school for my sunday school teacher to hear.That was my religious contribution i guess.Remeber playin Billy's tune "thats the way god planned it" and George's "my sweet lord".Fit right in to the whole sunday school vibe!!!!....I will say when Leon Russell dies I'm takin the week off from work.I'm a huge Leon fan.see him every time he comes around........R.I.P Billy
Mad Man Mike Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 He will be sadly missed in the music world. Remeber that he is now in GOD hands and what wonderful music he will make in heaven. 59 is a young age but it was his time. Another thing to remember is his music will last a lifetime for generations to come.
Brooks Posted June 7, 2006 Posted June 7, 2006 i just watched beatles anthology 4 the other night. r.i.p.
Guest Mike Lee Posted June 7, 2006 Posted June 7, 2006 The article said he had been in a coma since November. I had no idea. I just watched the Concert for George again with some friends about two months ago. I have the DVD and they hadn't seen it yet. One of the best concert DVD's you'll ever see.Anyway, Billy plays a mean B-3 on Isn't It a Pity. There's nothing quite like an old Hammond and Leslie in the hands of someone who really knows how to play them.
HamerHokie Posted June 7, 2006 Posted June 7, 2006 SNL's first musical guest passes, and we are all lesser for it.My favorite Preston jam is "Outta Space," really dig the clavinet.
Buzzy Fretts Posted June 7, 2006 Posted June 7, 2006 "we've forgotten Billy Preston!" -G.H. at the closing of bangladeshGone but not forgotten. I saw Preston with the 79 Harrison tour and later with the Stones. He stole the stage each time.
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