Musician Billy Preston , a so-called " fifth Beatle ", died in Arizona at the age of 59 after a long illness. A native of Houston, Texas ,  Preston played while in his teens with Mahalia Jackson, Little Richard and Ray Charles . He later backed up the Beatles , playing keyboards on Let It Be, The White Album and Abbey Road . He also played on the hit Beatles single " Get Back ." He also wrote the Joe Cocker hit " You Are So Beautiful ," and collaborated with Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Quincy Jones, and Barbra Streisand . He won two Grammys , including one for his involvement in the Concert for Bangladesh , staged by ex-Beatle George Harrison in 1971. Last year, in one of his final appearances, Preston performed in Los Angeles with former Beatle Ringo Starr and Harrison's son, Dhani .
Musician , a so-called " ", died in Arizona at the age of 59 after a long illness. A native of , , Preston played while in his teens with , and . He later backed up the , playing keyboards on , and . He also played on the hit Beatles single " ." He also wrote the hit " ," and collaborated with , , , and . He won two , including one for his involvement in the Concert for , staged by ex-Beatle in 1971. Last year, in one of his final appearances, Preston performed in with former Beatle and Harrison's son, .
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Billy Preston
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fifth Beatle
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Houston, Texas
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,
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Mahalia Jackson, Little Richard and Ray Charles
, and
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Beatles
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Let It Be, The White Album and Abbey Road
, and
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Get Back
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Joe Cocker
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You Are So Beautiful
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Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Quincy Jones, and Barbra Streisand
, , , and
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Grammys
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Bangladesh
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George Harrison
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Los Angeles
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Ringo Starr
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Dhani