Billy Preston: The Story of the (Almost) Fifth Beatle

Reaching the Limitless Sky

Preston went on to do a variety of other musical projects after the Beatles broke up, which further added to his fame. Before joining A&M, he released a solo album on Apple Records and worked on George Harrison’s seminal album “All Things Must Pass.”

Billy Preston and the Rolling Stones together in their hotel after a concert.

Photo by Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

He won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1972 for his groovy piece “Outa-Space,” while touring with the Rolling Stones and working on their records at the same time. In the 1970s, there wasn’t a huge rock ‘n roll tune that he didn’t touch.