The Definition of "Rock Royalty"!

[Looking Glass]

Billy Preston, was a Top Studio Musician, playing with the likes of Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and the Beatles with his Hammond B-3 Organ. He then went on to a successful SOLO Career with the Hits, "Will It Go Round In Circles" "Nothing From Nothing" and Co-Writing "You Are So Beautiful' that Joe Cocker took to #5 on the Billboard Chart!!

RIP- Billy Preston June 6, 2006.

 

[twocents]

Flashback--Audubon Junior High School (just east of Crenshaw Blvd. in Los Angeles -- late 1950s, early 1960s). My first class (7th grade) was homeroom -- Billy was one of the students in my class. He only attended Audubon for a few months, then one day he disappeared and never returned. Didn't realize who or what he was until a few years later.

 

[HighVoltage329]

Saw Billy play with the Stones in 1975 and played "Will It Go Round In Circles"!!!

 

[fat rat]

One of my favorites, back in the early 80’s.

 

[rrrr]

Billy Preston, was a Top Studio Musician, playing with the likes of Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and the Beatles with his Hammond B-3 Organ.

The mighty B-3! It was a staple of rock during the late 60s and early 70s. Santana and the Allman Brothers were couple of my favorite groups that made it part of their music. Richard Wright of Pink Floyd also produced magic on the Big B.

As you said, Preston's session work was across the spectrum of rock, R&B, and soul. He was special.

 

[Taboma]

One of my favorites, back in the early 80’s.

Ummm, Billy Ocean ??

 

[Taboma]

The mighty B-3! It was a staple of rock during the late 60s and early 70s. Santana and the Allman Brothers were couple of my favorite groups that made it part of their music. Richard Wright of Pink Floyd also produced magic on the Big B.

As you said, Preston's session work was across the spectrum of rock, R&B, and soul. He was special.

Owned a B3 with a Leslie, from 1958 until they burned in the fire, 2007. Also had a M3 spinet, I'd use with the Leslie when I was in a band, much easier to cart around and saved the roadie wear and tear on the B3. If the gig was a BFD, I had contacts with area dealers who'd set me up with a B3, hauling it in and out, so long as they got a good plug.

Needless to say, Mr Preston was "The Man" I also really enjoyed a few Lee Michaels concerts I attended, that two man team of he and Frosty could flat fill a room with sound. But he nor anybody was Billy Preston

My little basement 'Just for fun' Studio I was enjoying before it all burned.

 

[cofooter]

He was really good and had a big role in the Concert for George (Harrison) in 2002

 

[rrrr]

Owned a B3 with a Leslie, from 1958 until they burned in the fire, 2007. Also had a M3 spinet, I'd use with the Leslie when I was in a band, much easier to cart around and saved the roadie wear and tear on the B3. If the gig was a BFD, I had contacts with area dealers who'd set me up with a B3, hauling it in and out, so long as they got a good plug.

Needless to say, Mr Preston was "The Man" I also really enjoyed a few Lee Michaels concerts I attended, that two man team of he and Frosty could flat fill a room with sound. But he nor anybody was Billy Preston

My little basement 'Just for fun' Studio I was enjoying before it all burned.

View attachment 1239176

This is a dimension of the Taboma I was unaware of. Impressive.

My second organ teacher had a B-3 and a Leslie. It was fun to play.

 

[Taboma]

This is a dimension of the Taboma I was unaware of. Impressive.

My second organ teacher had a B-3 and a Leslie. It was fun to play.

By 20 I came to my crossroads, pro keyboardist or sparky ? Couldn't keep doing both because a man's gotta sleep sometimes.
Guess we now know which became my profession and which became my hobby and soul food.


My rack is gone, my stand reduced from stacked to a single layer with a lone Yamaha Tyros 5 perched on it, with two JBLs and a Sub waiting for me to flip the switch.
It's sadly currently covered and I'm truly embarrassed to confess, it has been for almost two years now.

I walk by it several times a day, almost each time thinking, OK, later I'll sit down for a bit, just touch a key, play a chord, something, but I don't and another day passes.

I'm not sure why exactly, other than perhaps preferring denial over actual confirmation that I was by far a better player at 16 than my hammered body and lazy, hazy mind will permit today.


Maybe today ?? Maybe if I take the cover off and touch one key ??
That's how it used to work, just one key, one chord, and I'd blow two hours, whoosh.

Not sure why I shared that, I dunno, perhaps guessing there's other older musicians that have suffered a similar musical crisis of sorts.

My grandson who plays both guitar and the keys has happily been on the receiving end of what once was a keyboard musical chairs as I just had to try each new iteration of sync or arranger keyboard that hit the market.
He's in a garage/rock band, now, but I see Engineering as his future profession.

I do know I'll never own another B3, I can't, I don't own a tube tester anymore.