The UNTOLD TRAGIC Story of BILLY PRESTON - Sexuality Struggles | Addiction_Revealed Truth
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ก.ค. 2023
- William Everett Preston was born on September 2, 1946, in Houston and later moved to Los Angeles as a child with his mother, Robbie Lee Williams. From a young age, he displayed extraordinary musical talent and was entirely self-taught without ever having a formal music lesson. By the age of ten, he was already performing as an organist on stage, backing gospel singers like Mahalia Jackson. At eleven, he appeared on an episode of Nat King Cole's NBC TV show, where he sang Fats Domino's hit "Blueberry Hill" with Cole himself. In 1958, Preston even appeared in the W. C. Handy biopic "St. Louis Blues," portraying Handy at a younger age.
#billypreston #thebeatles #therollingstones #motownmusic
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I was a counselor for a community center in Tucson back in 1986. Preston was doing community service at the center as part of a suspended sentence for some or other drug violations. Mostly he did custodial work, maybe a few hours a week, and I'd think, "Man, what a waste of a world class talent." Then one night he conducted some kind of a seminar for the teens enrolled in an electronic music workshop. He was so great working with the kids, really kindling their passions. It quickly became a nightlong jam session. It was a wonderful sight to behold, and I was so glad he had the chance to give back to the community by doing what he did best.
I wonder why he liked being around Teens?
@@robertwright9324
Is it weird to love youth and teach them things they may never learn…😒
@GlorifiedTruth; That was nice of him to do that for the teens and kids. Many abused children often blame themselves for the abuse, not realizing it is not their fault, but they will carry the guilt if they do not deal with it correctly so Billy seemed to try to work through his pain by working with kids. And working with teens is a positive thing because it helps those teens to feel good about themselves. Some of them may have also been abused as kids. You never know of the positive effects that you have on kids and teens.
@@veltonmeade1057Dont beleive such unrealistic bull hype..🎉
He picked up a 16 year old mexican boy outside of a home depot, took him to his home, smoked cocaine, showed the boy pornography and molested him. Him being around teens at a community center is very telling. And sick. No matter how talented he was, he was a sick man.
You missed the most important fact that Billy was a victim of sexual abuse as a young child, and that trauma haunted him his entire life. Billy Preston was brilliant and brought joy to millions. RIP Billy.
Thanks! Things like that can drive you to greatness and and also drive you down the road of self abuse and destruction.. He experienced both
He also sexually victimized other young men.
Have mercy! Most people, as well as I, never knew that Billy Preston was terribly mistreated as a child. As far as I know, it could happen to anyone, just like depression and mental illness. They are the parts of life.
@@Magnetron33o
I pause at the sexual abuse of a teenager. There's never an excuse for that.
I had the honor of being his front-of-house audio engineer during a tour of Colombia in 1982. He played the entire night on a beat up old Hohner Clavinet, but boy, could he pull some funk off of that thing. Amazing, electrifying performance, even in the early 80's, when his addictions were starting to get the better of him, his energy was astounding. One of the greatest professional experiences I ever had. And it actually half audience experience. Once I got the mix going, there wasn't a whole lot I had to do. The band were all excellent musicians. all of them blacks. So much soul. I felt privileged to attend that concert, let alone man the house mix. RIP, Billy. Great guy.
Great story! Precious memories
Did you bust the cheeks?
His astounding energy might have been DUE to his addiction...cocaine was his drug of choice and tends to give copious amounts of energy to it's user. 🤣🤪😮🎼🎶🎶🎶
Best road story EVER
Oh how I love Billy Preston. I saw him perform at the Roxy in L.A. in the mid-70s and had a surprise conversation with him. My ex at the time worked at a record company. One day Billy went into his office and my ex told him how much I loved him. To my complete shock, my ex called me and said he had someone who wanted to say hi. Billy couldn’t have been more gracious and sweet. It’s a memory I’ll never forget! Rest in eternal peace sweet Billy. ❤
May I also add that Billy Preston had the most spectacular natural….ever!!!
I loved the track he recorded with Stevie Wonders wife Syreeta ... "With you I'm born again" ... The arrangement and vocals were so moving.
It's such a beautiful song
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thats one great song!
That's billy on Sly Stones "family Affair". He was a beast of a player.
I got to see Billy Preston with George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, and on a solo tour. He always was a crowd pleaser. Rest in Peace, you did it well, Mr. Preston.
He definitely deserved to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. My cousin, guitarist David T. Walker, did lots of studio work with Billy, including being the lead guitarist on the hit, Outta Space. RIP.
I thought George Harrison played lead on that tune ......here I go, off to Google it
Both David and George played on it
D.T. Walker, also a legend. Respect.
Billy was the first ever musical guest on Saturday Night Live (at the time called "NBC's Saturday Night") and man did he knock it out of the park jamming Nothing From Nothing, greatest performance ever from a musical guest and worth buying the first season of SNL just to be able to see it.
Was your cousin in the band he had that night on the show?
What the hell do the idiots that run that joke , know about music or talent ? With the list of players in his bag , WTF ! List the Keyboardist who made it and then listen to Billy !
Billy Preston's two circa 1966 albums inspired me into a 55+ year career on piano, organ, and keyboards. I'm 70 now and grew up in a pre-web world of minimal information. Now that I've just watched this video my fandom and appreciation for Billy Preston is greater than ever. He changed the world !!! 😀👍
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree!
You have to be born with that level of musical talent, and he was!
If I only had 1% of his skills
I was humbled to work with him. He was a beautiful person when sober.
in my opinion Preston deserved the same amount of success Prince and Michael Jackson had.
That man literally saved the “Let it Be” sessions.
Nothing from nothing- he knew his numbers he bring$ the bank to the table
There wouldn't be any piano on it unless Paul or John over dubbed it on later. Probably Paul, he was the better p[layer.😉🎹
Billy was the one the Beatles chose to “round it out”. Says it all. RIP and blessings.
None of the English rockers came to the funeral except Joe Cocker...Little Richard was so pissed at them...Billy Preston also woked with Andrae Crouch the father of Modern Gospel
That was very shady of them.
But many of them, who Billy worked with were dead by then.
That’s pretty cold😮
@@lhbfiness1251wow, I didn't know that Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, and not to mention Keith Richard's passed away before 2006.
Maybe Beatles & Stones didn’t want their friend’s funeral to become a media circus about them. You think?
I attended an Eric Clapton concert in the 2000’s, was shocked to see Billy Preston on stage, probably one of his last performances, then shocked to hear of his passing a couple of years later. Never knew about his troubles but man what a talent. It’s too bad he lived life with all that on his shoulders. I’m sorry for his victim(s) also. Goes to show that even the famous & talented can be affected by predators.
I could care less what Preston's sexuality was. I love his music and he seems like an extremely good, kind man.
I saw Billy play with Ringo Starr and the All-Star Band in Saratoga in 1995. After playing the last song, he shook hands with the audience, and I got to him. I said, Billy, get back with the Stones and he said yeah, yeah! He seemed like such a sweet guy. RIP
Billy was a highlight of the Stone's 1975 tour! Dancing with Mick was a delight to see!
He performed three or four songs & it was stellar!
I loved him. Great talent. "Will it Go Round In Circles" was so good.
I remember Billy Preston's HUGE afro and very nice smile. I do remember some of his music as well. I never knew about his troubles or the last years of his life. Just goes to show you never know what struggles people are having.
FYI the huge Afro was a wig
yes in the Engelbert Humperdinck show together with Tom Jones, great stuff and huge Afro
Wig it was.
My family and I met him by accident while touring the Queen Mary back in the Sixties. He was doing a TV show there. He was very charming and beyond affable.
Wow, this crazy to see.. Billy is my blood cousin, never got chance to meet him. My grandmother talked about him a lot though!! R.I.P CUZ !!
He was a great guy, I’d see him quite a bit growing up in Detroit. He would jam with my cousin’s father’s Jimmy and David Ruffin. He used to have a beautiful white Rolls Royce, similar to Jimmy’s.
I didn't watch this but.. He became a Christian several years before he passed on.. It is very well for him.. Receive Jesus if you have not.. I'm sure that is what he would want said to anyone but especially family members.❤
33 years later,still my biggest concert I didn’t go to regret.1990 Ringo,s first All Star band. Billy Preston. Still hurts!
He was a brilliant musician, performer, composer as well as the Fifth Beatle. He is perhaps the most underrated talent in the music world
The fifth Beatle is Sir George Martin who made them. Preston only played on a couple of their songs ever
@@flyingburritobro68 🙄 Fine, Billy was the 6th Beatle. 🤪
Saw him at the Apollo theater in Ny. It was a gospel show my dad took the family. He was the organist for all the act s I was in awe!!!!
I never heard of Billy denying his faith. We are all imperfect beings, including Billy, but I dont think a lot of us have had to carry the terrible weight he carried, thankfully. I don't see how he managed to do it with the bravery and grace that he did. You're finally at peace Billy, rest easy now. We miss you.
One of my favorite artists of all time. Saw him play with Eric Clapton. I was in the second row and he smiled at me while playing one of his songs. I still remember the thrill of catching his eye! I will always be grateful I got to see this amazing human live. And that Eric Clapton gave him a set in his concert. RIP you incredible human!❤️
I must’ve seen a show from the same tour. David Sancious was there and Steve Gadd was on drums.
If it was the Reptile tour in 2000, then I saw that as well. Still remember Preston and the group playing Will It Go 'Round In Circles. They tore it UP. R.I.P.
I was lucky to see Billy Preston live in concert twice, once with George Harrison in 1975 and once with Eric Clapton on one of his tours in the mid 70s. Like a t-shirt I had made once said, "I may be old but I got to see all the really cool bands."
👍💯💯🎸
you're not old you're seasoned like good bbq!!! you're also lucky to have been able to see the greats!!!
THAT WAS THE YEAR I WAS BORN ! HIS SISTER ROHDENA PRESTON - WILLIAMS TAUGHT ME TO SING ALTO AT MY OLD CHURCH . SHE WAS A WONDERFUL WOMAN ! EVERY YEAR HE FOR OUR PASTOR'S ANNIVERSARY HE WOULD SING, " YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL TO ME ." I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL YEARS LATER HE WROTE THAT SONG . ;) ❤️
You mean YOUNG.
Iam with you, i loved my past going to Concerts , i gotta get back out.
Saw billy twice, once with the ringo dealy and once in a small club. He introduced himself as the 5th Beatle and the sixth rolling stone. He brings it evertime he plays
Billy was popular when I was a teen in the 70's, he deserves more attention like your doing here. Very cool. Thanks.
💯 Who would you say is your favorite artist of all time?
I saw Billy Preston in both of the incarnations of Ringo And The All Starr Band that he participated in. He brought down the house with his playing and energy, he got out and danced on the edge of the stage. Billy and Clarence Clements did a duet on Clarence's "You're A Friend Of Mine". Both shows were on fire those nights!
Rest In Peace,
Billy. 💔🕯
Wow! Billy and Clarence Clements? Now that would be something to see! Great story.
The brother made that organ scream!
That's what his male lovers said.
@@punkanelliefonkbush8811 which number were you, Burnaboy?
@wrinthiak3431
He's in eternal hell screaming and regretting the very day that he was born. HE WAS A CLOSET HOMOSEXUAL.
It is appointed man once to die, and then the judgement.
As an endtime watchman, my calling is to warn and inform. BE NOT DECEIVED.
IT IS WRITTEN, WITHOUT HOLINESS, NO MAN SHALL SEE GOD.
God warned about people with a sinful lifestyle.
@@wrinthiak3431 number 1
@@rogerjohnson833Doesn’t God Have Something To Say About Child Sexual Abusers?
Billy Preston is a great artist. Listened to lots of his music in the 70s.
Thank you Billy for sharing your talent with the world
"With You I'm Born Again" is my favorite.
He was so gifted as an artist but like so many others, that addiction had a hold on him
When you've been a member of The Beatles AND The Rolling Stones, your musical credentials speak for themselves.
Member😮. He sat in like the thousands of other sessions players. Member🤣🤣🤣joke azz clown
Well stated!
Say no more
He was never a member of the Beatles or the Stones !
Yeah the wrecking crew were a large group of very talented musicians!
Always loved him , as he was part of the soundtrack to some of the best times of my life
Met em & got to see him play @ the NY Metro area Beatles fest in 2005. What a wonderful man, despite the recognition he got, I still dont think he got enough!
He was a musical genius at a very young age. He became a star. But he always seem to care about helping others to have success more then becoming the Mega star himself. But to people that knew music he was a mega star. The best always wanted to work with him.
At the end of George Harrisons " Bangladesh " concert , George was thanking all the artists who were on stage with him , including the backup singers . Poor George forgot Billy , but finally remembered ! Great person , great keyboardists , great time to play !
Billy Preston was a great musician. It is a shame that he had struggles with sexuality due to SA from someone in the church. This church SA is making me angry! He told his mother what happened, and she told him to keep it quiet. I would have torn up the entire church! No way! Billy be at peace brother.
Well-stated on all points.
I’m with you! I would have been on a rampage.
She didn’t believe him
@@daniellej7914 correct, but she should have believed him!
Such a talented artist. His contribution will be everlasting for generations to come.❤
I recognized Billy Preston in "St Louis Blues". SO dog gone talented! I'm trying to get my son to sing "My Sweet Lord" at church. bless your soul Billy! ! ! Luv you.
Seen Billy perform a few times. Once back in Dec, 1975 at the New Haven Coliseum. I believe his opening act was "Rufus"
I seen him in 2002 at Madison Sq. Garden. He was in Eric Clapton's band. 🎹
aaaah
the beautiful,
undeniable 5th beatle.!
what a legacy..
dearly missed.
🕯🥺
✌🏻🇦🇺🌏🤘🏻
In Get Back you could literally see the room brighten when he came in. The Beatles were suddenly more in sync.
When he turned up with some soul and that good blow!😂
That's why he got the call. Mr. Positive!
Billy wrote you are so beautiful one of joe cocker biggest hits which joe sang at billys funeral great career Billy rip
There is so much competition with not only the incredible black performers and composers but all of them.
He stood out and even performed with the best.
Some of my favorite songs are from him. Breaks my heart that he is gone.😢
Perhaps I have never met Billy Preston, I would miss him so unhappily that death really hurts my heart. I enjoyed the way he played musical keyboards, as well I can type on a typewriter-like keyboard. Billy Preston was the most important man in America.
What?
@@carlwalker5632 You got that right! Thank you for your comment to my message. 💙
You are welcome. You type like a champion. Thank you for typing to me! ⭐
He really WAS super talented.
You can never forget his talent and that Beautiful Afro.
I miss when people didn't need validation from people who don't even matter.
I never even thought about his sexuality.
Why is that everybody's business?
I didn't know either. I'm gay and it's good to know that I wasn't alone. I don't blame him for keeping it to himself, it's his business. People treat you differently when they know that you are gay. I just wanted to be like everyone else and be treated as such.
No ones business,but,people are very nosy and like to judge others,especially christians.
@@powerbadpowerbad Those same people who judge are the worse and do the worse in secret.
They are just projecting.
@@sparkle3000 AGREED.
@@jameslanclos568 I never heard it say that he was gay, I did hear it say that he sexually assaulted a 16 year old boy. That makes him a pedophile.
I do know that he "came out" at the end of his life & I think it sucks that he had to keep it in, maybe if he had been able to be himself he wouldn't have needed to do sneaky things with a minor who was 29 years younger than himself.
Because of childhood SA, Billy struggled through life, and people wanna argue against the death penalty for child molesters
I can understand
He abused others who will struggle throughout their lives, no excuses.
If I might tiptoe in here to say that he (supposedly) was the one who molested Michael Jackson.
@@johnmc3862 It seems they make excuses for gifted entertainers.
@@onemoremisfit They always do, like Michael Jackson
Two songs come to mind when I think of Billy Preston, Nothin from nothin leaves nothin , and With you I'm born again.
I realize that you need people to click on hence the salacious title. However this video was poorly named and so much good was actually said here about Mr. Preston, that his personal struggles could have been left out entirely.
Billy Preston was a CHILD PRODIGY, there are no words to describe how GIFTED he was, he played his Keyboards, as well as so many other instruments with PURE POWERHOUSE perfection💥💥💥💯💯💯 however I felt nothing but sadness, having read about his Sexual Abuse during his childhood,😡😩, I am sure no one was ever held accountable, especially during that ERA, unfortunately 😔 he would go on to living a life of drug abuse, as well as becoming a sexual abuser on some level, very sad 😥 indeed, both for himself and his victim (s
He tried to tell his mama she didn’t believe him
Thank you for this mini documentary and Billy Preston for his wonderful musical contributions. [Thanks BTT6].
Billy was a fabulous musician in every way. I was lucky to see him live back in the 70s when he had his big Afro. He's one of my ultimate musical heroes of all time.
Saw him live opening for and playing in the backing band for George Harrison in 1974 Fort Worth. Awesome show!
Thanks for posting.
Oh wow! Billy I love him definitely talented ❤ you got it going on I know this one going too amazing story about Billy Preston forever rest in heaven forever 👑❤️🙏🏽🕊😇
He was a man of God, he always gave God the praise.
The rumors of him molesting children are not true and never proven.... because he openly loved and praised God, people with bad intentions set him up.
he sang, " you can't bring a good man down"..... they tried to bring him down...
especially those who were jealous of him.
jealous because he was so much more talented than most people.
I believe that God has this good man in Heaven and was falsely accused of things he didn't do.
And we are privileged to have his great music...
A MUSICAL GENIUS ⭐️⭐️🙏🏾🙏🏾
This cat was the real Black Beatle. In the 60s everyone was on drugs, we just didn't overanalyze it like we do now. He was cool by me, made some dope records.
John Lennon suggested making him a full time Beatle. Can’t get a higher recommendation than that. Wow !
Keith Richards outed him in his book "Life" published in 2010. Born from a different generation, Billy struggled mightily with being gay because of his deeply religious convictions and also, in fear of what impact that'd have on his musical career. 🎶😁
If Keith Richards did expose Billy Preston's sexuality in his book, it wouldn't had made any difference because, the entertainment industry is full of openly gay, lesbian and bisexual people including the ones who're still in the closet. By Billy Preston being gay, it would not have matter.
@@slimdude2011 In the 70's when Preston was a solo artist, being gay was not so highly received. In the 80's when the AIDS epidemic began, people diagnosed with that disease were automatically assumed gay. Billy's generation feared that stigma. Nowadays being gay is celebrated. So, that's the short history of the music culture. Note: Hollywood celebrities and pro athletes are still closeted because of the scrutiny and the potential harm to their carreers. It took years for Ricky Martin, Lance Bass... to out themselves.
@@GuitarsRule Billy Preston has played for many big-name artists, and they knew he was gay, but it wasn't an issue. Heck, they probably had even been with him sexually behind closed doors because, the entertainment industry is full of gay, bisexual men and women. If Billy Preston would've came out back in the 70s, it wouldn't had hurt his career because they already knew.
@@slimdude2011 Preston didn't care about the insiders, he cared about the 'outsiders', the fans. The fans are the millions that bought his millions of albums! His GENERATION as a tendency did not come out. Classic example was Rock Hudson.
@@GuitarsRule You'll be surprised at how the general public who've always suspect a famous person of being gay, but they're still in the closet. It's an instinct that a person has, who have family members who are gay and can detect someone is gay. In the case of Rock Hudson and other closeted gay actors and actresses, the public already knew, and that their marriages were arranged, by the industry to conceal their sexual identity the same as: John Travolta, Tom Cruise and many others.
Billy is wearing a Rufus featuring Chaka Khan t-shirt. He has performed with Chaka on numerous occassions. Rest In Peace Billy Preston.
great work
Interesting video
There's a wonderful clip on YT of Billy Preston on the Nat King Cole show when he was about 11.
I agree. I had not seen that clip previously.
I remember you Billy!
Very underrated artist !!
Just got myself a copy of Encouraging Words on vinyl. Knockout record. Surprised the man wasn't feted more down the years. He was a giant.
Man Billy Preston sure did have Afro power one of the most solid firmest I've ever seen Rest In Peace music legend!
It was a wig
@@technicscrew83yes it was
Billy was a genius...RIP.
So brilliant yet so sad
I was crazy about Billy and love his music.
I'm so lucky I got to see Billy play as Musical director for The DAVID BRENNER SHOW which was shot a small studio on the upper east side of Manhattan!
R.I.P KING THANK YOU FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL MUSIC 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽👑👑👑👑
How awful his demons got the best of him. his playing was pure magic. I hope he is at peace now.
His keyboards on "Danger" with JJ & EC from the "Road to Escondido" are brilliant.
I met Billy in the early 1980's when he came up to my Cashbox office in L.A.
He was an awesome piano player and songwriter.
🔷I met Billy one time in a restaurant, a moment I'll never forget, even as brief as it was. I was there with JayZ and Beyonce 2004, for the Princes Trust concert at Wembley in England, because my former husband produced the shows for JayZ. Strange world, but Billy was at this restaurant and after we all sat down, Billy walked over leaning over me asking to speak with Jay at the end of the table, but sadly, he was given a 'not at this time' motion. I felt very hurt by that, watching him kindly walk away to his table. Even though I did not know Billy, he always seemed like such a very kind and gentle man. Thank you for sharing Earth with us as you did, for the music, and your life story. Meet you in the middle of forever Mr. Preston, with deep respect.🙏
I don’t blame him. Lots of people knew about the real him and wanted no parts!
I loved his music while growing up. He is missed. Rip Billy 😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇
Saw him with the Stones Dallas July 1975, he was dressed in all black with a white piano, quite striking
that must have been a wild show 💥
@@Italy55 it was , Montrose, the Eagles and Trapeze with them, 120,000, kids,cost of ticket/!? 10$
Totally underrated.
Billy was awesome and not only a great musician but a very religious man God Bless
I was really impressed with his musical talent. I remember Shindig. Long time ago
Fantastic artist.
One of the great things Billy did was the song Games people play with the awesome Engelbert Humperdinck and the unbelievable Tom Jones. Look it up, it’s amazing!
Just imagine that if Billy Preston would have became a permanent Beatles wow !
He really was talented enough to do his own thing!
None of those English rockets came to his FUNERAL...I remember Little Richard was so pissed off about that
@@charleswilliams8248sorry not every body do funeral my mom just die a week ago I’m not going to her funeral before she die she know I’m not gonna attend her funeral I. Ant do it I don’t know why they didn’t go billy have a problem with young boy they accused him rape a Mexican young boy bad reputation can destroy you carrier
@@holydance4330 wow that I didn't know okay wow
@@michaelle8384 I've heard something similar to that also wow I hope that's not true but then again all those entertainers do that especially the ones now! The industry is sick has always been sick it's just coming out in the light what they really do because back then when I was coming up has a kid in the seventies I didn't think those artists where doing stuff like that
I've always liked "will it go round in circles" and "nothing from nothing" Two damn good songs.
The sexual allegations should surprise no one. After all, he had the "Wildest Organ In Town," remember?
He was that gifted where those boys couldn't say no. Obviously they like what he could do and he liked them as well. It was a win win for them and him
MIND. BLOWN.
2nd Ressurrection The Stairsteps.Produced by Billy Preston on Dark Horse Records.
Thanks for mentioning that. Billy was influential in getting them signed to George Harrison's label. Great album, that's was lost in the shuffle. Sadly, it wasn't a successful album as it should have been.
If you wanted a good organist on your record you had to have Billy on your record
Kudos to Billy Preston for his lifetime music legacy! The title of this clip is a bit deceptive which mentions struggles with his sexuality.. there was no elaboration in the clip other than an assault on a 16 year old male.. that's not a struggle, that's a crime!😮
One of a kind guy.