He was a Child Prodigy
Preston proved himself to be a child prodigy when it came to playing the piano after moving to Los Angeles with his mother when he was a young boy. He was routinely backing up gospel singers by the age of ten, and he made his first appearance on television as a supporting musician.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Preston quickly became a sought-after live performer, and at the age of 16, he began touring the world as an organist with Little Richard’s backing band. Preston met the people who would shape the rest of his life during his time with Little Richard.