Billy Preston, The Greatest Sideman Ever (And Native Texan), Dies At 59

We've just come across the incredibly sad news that Houston native Billy Preston has died of hypertension and kidney failure this morning in Arizona. Widely known as the "fifth Beatle" due to his fantastic organ parts on Abbey Road and Let It Be, Preston maintained a lifelong friendship with the Beatles, collaborating with John, Ringo, and George on 70's solo projects as well.

Preston's resume is staggering: he played in the touring bands of Ray Charles, Little Richard, Sly And The Family Stone, The Rolling Stones, and (most recently) Eric Clapton. Those keyboards and pianos on most mid-70's albums by the Stones are Preston, and so are the organs on "Get Back" and " I've Got A Feeling." Preston also wrote the standard "You Are So Beautiful" (made famous by Joe Cocker) which has been played at pretty much every wedding ever. He also did studio work with Bob Dylan (Blood On The Tracks), Aretha Franklin (Young, Gifted, and Black), Quincy Jones, and The Jackson 5. One is hard-pressed to think of someone who has collaborated and influenced an entire generation of rock and soul in the same manner as Preston. He knew everyone, worked with everyone, but rarely took the spotlight for himself.

While Preston had been in poor health of late, he still toured (along with former Austinite Doyle Bramhall II) in Eric Clapton's band until recently, and also did sessions with Ray Charles for Genius Loves Company and Rick Rubin for the new Neil Diamond and Red Hot Chili Peppers discs. Billy has now left the stage, but thankfully, his amazing body of work should live on and on.

Photo via Beatles.com. Billy Preston's Greatest Hits can be purchased here.