Billy Preston: Fifth Beatle and Soul Keyboardist Dies at 59

Billy Preston was an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter. Born on September 2, 1946, in Houston, Texas, he played in gospel groups and with Little Richard and Ray Charles as a teen.

He played on the Beatles' Let It Be sessions and was credited on the single "Get Back," the only time the group credited another artist, earning the nickname the "fifth Beatle." His solo hits included "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from Nothing." He toured with the Rolling Stones from 1973 to 1977.

Preston was in a coma after complications from pericarditis in November 2005. He died of respiratory failure at a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, on June 6, 2006, at age 59. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.

Achievements: Grammy Award for "Outa-Space," played with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Birth: September 2, 1946 - Houston, Texas.

Profession: Keyboardist and singer.

Interesting Facts: He performed at the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971.