Talk:Billy Preston

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[edit] Fifth Beatle?

Someone added a sentence today that he was definitely NOT considered "the fifth Beatle", and that George Martin was. I removed this sentence -- the article clearly explains that Preston was one of SEVERAL people who were sometimes called "the fifth Beatle". Of course it's a subjective thing, but if you feel the need to debate it, here's the place. Vandelay 18:10, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Gay?

According to the latest issue of the Advocate, Preston was gay but didn't like to talk about his sexuality. Are there any more resources on this? It seems like the straight, white Beatles appropriated from two black, gay men: Little Richard and Billy Preston. Can Preston be listed under a "Gay Musicians" category?

On August 18, 1991, singer and keyboardist Billy Preston was arrested in Malibu, California, after a 16-year-old boy reported that he was sexually attacked and shown obscene pictures. Preston was charged with exhibiting pornography, annoying a child and possessing cocaine. A year later, he entered no-contest pleas to the cocaine and assault charges. He was sentenced to nine months at a drug rehabilitation center and three months of house arrest.[1]--Kstern999 03:47, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] General chat

I'm thinking this page is out of proportion -- I think that the discography should be cut way down, and his association with the Beatles should be emphasized more. --Arcadian 02:36, 7 Feb 2005 (UTC)

If he was one of TWO people credited on Beatles albums, and I'd always heard he was the ONLY one, WHO is the other????65.40.167.36 14:22, 7 June 2006 (UTC) (The answer is Tony Sheridan, I believe) Vandelay 18:22, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

Maybe I missed it, but there seems to be no mention of one of Billy Preston's biggest hits, "Will it go round in circles?". Mirlin 21:20, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

Agreed, the article needs to discuss his career as a solo artist, including the hits Will It Go Round In Circles, Outta Space, Space Race, and Nothing From Nothing. SleepyheadKC, 12:02 16 May 2006 (UTC)

Please sign using ~~~~, which will add your username and the date and time automatically. --kingboyk 12:06, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

Well, it's been nine months, and no one has objected, so I'm going to pare the discography down. --Arcadian 01:00, 17 November 2005 (UTC)

Billy had a nice hit with "God Planned it (that's the way). It was a gospel flavored tune that rocked, probably 1969. When he played at the "Tastefest" in Detroit, for free, that is the one song he omitted. Instead of an encore, he ducked behind the band and raced for his limo. Possibly he was pissed because some ignorant fan was throwing an album on stage for an autograph. That was a big disappointment.

No mention of "Live at the Fillmore" by King Curtis? Surely some of his best work. I can understand the need to keep the discography short, but not to mention that album seems unfortuate.

[edit] Photo

Can't we find a better photo ? -- Beardo 04:48, 14 March 2006 (UTC)

Give the man a little more dignity than a still from SPLHCB! Sheesh!

I agree, the photo has got to go.

Then find a better one people! --kingboyk 20:33, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Bring back the Sgt. Pepper photo! The purpose of the photo should be recognition basis; I should be able to click on a name that sounds familiar, see a pic and say "Ohhhhh...THAT guy." I'd wager dollars to donuts (whatever that means) that more would recognize Preston as a smiling energetic performer than from the sombre album cover now shown... Wencer 03:48, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Um... it hasn't gone anywhere. It's right there underneath. The picture was changed so that you could actually see his face. —Gordon P. Hemsley→✉ 04:11, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

And this photo with an "AFRO" just the chileans said yo his hair??? El Manu!!!

[edit] Died?

I didn't know. I can't say I'm suprised though, given recent reports of chronic ill-health. Rest in peace Billy, you had soul alright. --kingboyk 17:28, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

• 5th or 6th? Web news stories are dated the 6th, but the entry says the 5th (though the death section says the 6th. Can we get a source that we can use for a date? Rjhatl 17:35, 6 June 2006 (UTC) (NM, that's been fixed now)

• Rest in Peace Billy. you will be missed. From Montreal to Tokyo, you were known world wide. Thanks for the great music.

• 'Night Bill. Isn't it a pity?--Crestville 14:37, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

• I'm deeply sad, too. Thanks for all, Bill. --german user: Orphal 14:47, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Coma?

I've just commented out the following line:

He had been in a coma since November 21, 2005.

From what I can tell, Billy Preston was up and around until the time of his death. According to his website, he had scheduled appearances before and after his death:

Billy will be a guest performer on the season finale of American Idol. 8PM ET/PT. Billy will be taping "Later with Jools" while in London on June 7th.

• APRIL 23 3 Rivers Music Festival, Columbia, SC [2]
• JUNE 25 Monterey Blues Festival [3]
• JULY 2 Montreux Jazz Festival [4]
• JULY 1 Poretta Soul Festival [5]
• AUGUST 6,7 Mohegan Sun Casino Amphitheater, Connecticut
• AUGUST 10 Hollywood Bowl [6]
• AUGUST 13 Mammoth Lakes, California
• AUGUST 19-21 BeatleFest, Chicago [7]
• SEPTEMBER 4 Bumbershoot, Seattle [8]

Any other related sources? —Gordon P. Hemsley→✉ 21:10, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Hmm... maybe the line was true.... It seems that the website may be out of date, because Billy Preston appeared on the season finale of American Idol (Season 5), which was last year. A Reuters via AOL article seems to agree, as well. —Gordon P. Hemsley→✉ 21:38, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Actually, you must have meant American Idol (Season 4), the one that ended in May 2005, so that would be consistent with the "coma since November" question. USA Today showed a photo of him there.[9] Vandelay 12:15, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

Bizarre. I guess the media will eventually sort it out, but some sources are still reporting that he was in a coma. [10] In fact, a Fox News story from March talks about a court battle related to his coma. [11]. His own website reports that "As a result of a medical insult he'd been in a deep coma since last November 21st, but was still struggling to recover." [12]. The only thing I can think of is that the scheduled appearances were prearranged. Since the official press release of his death on his own site reports that he was in a coma, I'll restore it to the page. Rjhatl 21:44, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

If he was in a coma since last November, how could he have recorded the Red Hot Chili Peppers track? Whotookthatguy 22:40, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, that's part of what got me confused, as well. —Gordon P. Hemsley→✉ 04:10, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

According to Rolling Stone magazine, the Peppers began working on "Stadium Arcadium" in September 2004.[13] So it's entirely within reason that Preston recorded his track before November 2005. Vandelay 12:22, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bob Dylan?

I don't understand the listing of Blood on the Tracks in Preston's session discography. There is absolutely no record on reputable Dylan fan sites of Preston ever participating in that album. Any objections if I delete the listing? Signinstranger 15:20, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

I had already deleted it once; I've just done it again. The problem is that Preston's official web site lists Blood on the Tracks in his discography [14], so it will probably keep coming back. Ccoll 15:52, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Be forewarned: some newspaper obits today list Billy as being on Blood on the Tracks, so people will keep placing it here. But Paul Griffin plays the organ on BOTT, according to the album credits.

RIP Billy. 64.204.152.169 15:56, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] http://www.billypreston.net/

What can I say than more??? 81.246.208.65 21:47, 11 June 2006 (UTC) S.K.

[edit] Beatles WikiProject

After holding off for a long time, I've added a Beatles WikiProject tag to the talk page. Billy was a close friend and associate of The Beatles, and recorded for Apple Records. I think either of those is enough to have his article come within project scope, both is a cert. --kingboyk 09:09, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

• And the discography??? The 80% of the Billy's albums has a Beatles song.

El Manu!!! 09:51, 18 June 2006 (UTC) Abbey Road was the last album the Beatles recorded. Not Let it Be

[edit] WP:BLP Tag

I took off the BLP tag, since the subject died last June 2006. I assessed the article as well. Real96 22:57, 2 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The Beatles' miscellanea

Check The Beatles' miscellanea to see if there is anything in it you can use. A lot of 'miscellanea' needs to be trimmed (as linked articles are improved) so please feel free to use anything before certain sections get zapped into the ether... ThE bEaTLeS aka andreasegde 16:30, 3 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] confusing sentence

In the Beatles section, it reads:

'It would have made Preston officially "the fifth Beatle," a title he was not loath to exploit over the next three decades'

Is that a typo, or am I misunderstanding? --Chfprd 06:26, 8 March 2007 (UTC)