The Beatles with Billy Preston - hero of Get Back and Let It Be

More on Billy: • The Beatles with Billy...
More on Let It Be - Get Back:
• The Beatles rooftop co...
• Lennon McCartney songs...
• George Harrison rescue...
• George Martin's pivota...
• Beatles attend screeni...
• The Beatles' own react...
• Let It Be movie - the ...
#thebeatles #johnlennon #paulmccartney #georgeharrison #ringostarr #billypreston #getback #letitbe #beatlesrooftop

[@HarrisonHollers]

Billy’s reaction is so precious! He’s a kid looking at the greatest group in the world doing their thing in the studio. John is asking him to jam with them and he accepts but you can tell he can barely process it because he is in such awe! Wonderful moment!

[@sammcbride2149]

If the wonderful and inspirational and groovy spirit of Billy Preston couldn't keep the Beatles together then nothing could have.

[@AlanSmitheeman]

Billy was an absolutely fantastic addition to the Let It Be sessions and George deserves full credit for inviting Billy which subsequently raised the morale and performances of all the Beatles.

[@RJLKMRD]

Give Billy and Paul McCartney credit for keeping the band together that last year and making them sound so good... But make no mistake about it, Paul McCartney owes a lot to Billy too

[@RJLKMRD]

Credit George Harrison for insisting Billy come in

[@hammer44head]

COnsidering it was Grouchy George and Junkie john causing the "bad vibes" in the first place, props to George for bringing in Billy to lift his and Johns morale and performances.

[@PaulFormentos]

And it was good to have him there in case stoned lennon slipped up and called Paul, Billy

[@gailg2327]

Great to see a young Billy, a marvelous musician. Thank you!

[@juno4494]

"Exquisite." What a prefect word to apply to Preston's genius at the keyboards....

[@SteveFollansbee]

What was truly amazing was the way he walked into that room and joined in on the organ as if these original songs were just as much his as they were the Beatles". To think how close he came to becoming the fifth Beatle. Mind-blowing.

[@RJLKMRD]

He fit in so well musically, he was completely in musical lockstep with everyone, but especially McCartney.... McCartney and Preston should have done more work together

[@Antonocon]

That don't let me down song is just fabulous all round. Eternal. Everything on it.

[@lunes-1]

Clever 🙏🎸George Harrison brought Billy Preston to calm down the tense atmosphere on the Beatles at the time

[@rodrigosilvamartins4983]

Props for George by having brought in two major players, Ringo and Billy

[@onelapmaster5634]

Don't forget Eric ( on one song).

[@Steveaky]

Love the way Paul looks so impressed with Billy’s playing

[@carlkelley4566]

Billy appeared to be a man of few words. His music spoke for him. "Don't let me down" was a prime example.

[@BaconTomatoCheese]

Wow, that’s some cool footage of Billy playing at such a young age! RIP🎹

[@anthonyferris8912]

Billy need no introduction. He was an old friend of the Beatles from way back in their Hamburg years.

[@robertcolontonio7775]

He is got to be the happiest & most grateful person ever. When he was on piano on the roof concert he looked like a little kid on his first time to Disney world. It's so fun to watch him.

[@aquamarine99911]

It's fun for us to watch him, but I guess it wasn't fun for the cameramen. You can barely see Billy on the roof.

[@MakaiMauka]

Never hurts to add a rare musical genius to the team

[@Marthins1]

Great musician Billy Preston.

[@josephblue4135]

Thank you. I had no idea he was so prolific at such a young age! Amazing!

[@DinsDale-tx4br]

Billy made it all possible! George's comment about guests was however referring to Eric Clapton and 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' recordings. Billy enabled The Beatles to rise above their own differences and make true art happen! He deserves the accolade of being a Beatle.

[@wegotlumpsofitroundtheback5065]

It never ceases to amaze me how many times I hear stories similar to this where someone like Billy just shows up and is invited to play on the album in that moment and he nods his head, "sure" and agrees to stick around for days to record the ablum and not once is there a conversation about signing a contract, speaking to his agent, how much am I going to be paid? None of that. Just: "you want me to play on it? Sure. Let's jam. I can hang for a week."

[@rdsieben]

I admire Billy a great musician and God fearing. Unfortunately he had some demons to deal with.

[@JustVisiting]

I saw Billy in 2001 when he toured with Clapton. Great performance.

[@ChristopherHolmgren]

Saw 3 nights in a row on that tour. Billy was phenomenal! The crowds loved him and he was in top form.

[@stevenwetter5663]

“He’ll probably pick it up much quicker just hearing us playing״. Right on the money, George!!

[@kay61100]

I have this Movie LET IT BE... it s greatest....Greetings from Germany

[@Thomas-xs2kq]

The movie is shit.

[@iancrossley6637]

RIP Billy and thanks.

[@webcityguymyclubb4032]

They somehow missed that this was a a way to keep the band going. Having musicians this talented enter temporarily into the band could have kept the Beatles together for the pure love and fun of music.

[@MaccaBulsi]

Dafür hätte Ono verschwinden müssen...

[@vampyros1]

They already had people in the band who were even more talented than Billy; a dearth of talent had nothing to do with their beakup.

[@NotMe-st8qc]

Such a fine musician. He knew the key immediately and improvised great organ and keyboard parts on the fly. I wish I had 1/10 that much talent

[@averyprice9422]

Billy got them back on track.. for sure

[@MarkInLA]

I'm a retired bassist but forgot so many of the things Billy did in his career..Aside from his great job in "Get Back" I remember how much I liked "Will it Go Round in Circles" way back when I was working in bands of all kinds..Man, we REALLY DID have some great times and SUPER wonderful sounds and musicians we 'grooved on' so much, especially in the 60s and 70s..as it all seemed so magical...I guess you could say it's because it WAS magical !! It was new and fresh; the staidness of rock and roll transitioning into "Something New", if you'll forgive the pun..(Beatles' 2nd album, I think..How I Loved that record jacket, as even IT was so well chosen and had such an excitement about it to us teens)... Well, I'm so glad I was 'there' and now 'here' hoping of seeing our first female president elected just 9 days from now !! What a thrill that will be !!! Yeah, yeah, yeah......YEAH !!!

[@ofb-jq5lc]

Paul’s expression at 2:02 says it all.

[@MrStrocube]

I watched Get Back, and what really struck me was how Billy’s presence catalyzed the session. It was day and night. Billy literally saved them.

[@KatharineShaw-z8u]

Billy Preston is the only musician to get a credit of his own with the Beatles. Their 'Get Back' single is officially The Beatles with Billy Preston.

[@cvdevol]

Billy saved the sessions. No doubt about it. R.I.P.

[@patrickcampion7966]

Love the thumbnail image of Paul playing George's rosewood Tele upside down. As a righty, I'd have a hell of a hard time getting my head around playing a left handed guitar. I guess he had/has a lot of experience with that.

[@BaconTomatoCheese]

… And Billy playing John’s six string bass - which wasn’t an instrument I don’t think he was familiar with

[@robertlaguirremusic7381]

Billy Preston was so great! Only someone of his talent could reach the Beatles. Would have been so interesting if they brought him in as a member. Even it would have held them together little longer. His awesome talent would have been very interesting for one more album. RIP Billy Preston!

[@mitchjay2108]

as far as musicians joining the Fab 4 Billy in my opinion was definitely " The 5th Beatle " ...

[@davimerc]

Billy Preston was great.

[@KeithSpinneyMusic]

It's interesting to note that Billy played on John's, Ringo's and George's solo albums, but not Paul's.

[@zaziou711]

Paul wanted to play the piano himself, especially on stage so.. He even played every instruments on his first solo album. He didn't really need Billy Preston or Nicky Hopkins as much as the others but he had a great relationship with Billy and met him a few times in the 70's on jam sessions. Paul was kind of a control freak too, even if he liked Billy, he didn't really want him to join permanently the Beatles in 69 as it was proposed by John and Georges.

[@carloscastro1599]

​@@zaziou711el ego de Paul era tan grande que podría construir un puente de unión entre américa y europa

[@wayneb4]

Billy was a remarkable talent!!

[@jimrich4192]

So sad how drugs & booze kill the great ones way too early! RIP BILLY ❤

[@JohnQPublic345]

Im almost 60, and shamingly never knew that billy preston was the keyboardist . Hes great

[@aquamarine99911]

Missed three big facts about Billy. 1. He co-wrote "You Are So Beautiful" sung by Joe Cocker, 2 he wrote the iconic bass line for the Stones' "Miss You", and 3. when Keith finally kicked heroin, his first act was to fire Billy from working with the band because Billy was starting to dominate the Stones' sound (check out "Melody" off of "Black and Blue" and you'll see that Keith was correct). All in all, Billy would have been a worthy addition to the Beatles. And his good vibes might have kept the band together. We'll never know.

[@SIRONEDRAGON]

This video makes me feel so blessed I actually. got to meet some one that shook hands with George Paul Ringo and John... I got to meet Billy Preston.🍕🍕🍕🍕🎸🎸🎸🎸😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😉😉

[@Antonocon]

His hands were touched by God also.

[@curioussoftware]

Billy Preston was a very talented musician, I wish I could have met and talked with him

[@YokePingChin]

Wonderful video. Keep them coming

[@robertjackson9921]

Billy played a wailing electric organ on Sam Cooke's ' Little Red Rooster' when only 16!

[@barrycowan3540]

Billy's contribution to the Concert for George was one of the top highlihgts of a great event.

[@daveshulguitar762]

I had the pleasure of backing up Billy about 20 years ago for a few shows in the Bay Area…

[@ianlaker9161]

If they had carried on, Billy should have been made a permanent member. He was every bit as great as the others. Those keys were so soulful.

[@zaziou711]

The Beatles were at their artistic peak at this time. Imagine if they had pursued through the 70's with Billy on the rhodes, that would have been awesome. And to know that musicians like Clapton or Beck were ok to join if necessary...that would have been mindblowing. The fact is that the Beatles were afraid to go back on stage and they needed better musicians. Since 1965, things changed so much technically, bands like Led Zeppelin or the Who, Guitar players like Hendrix terrorized them, and they thought they were not able to go out of their studio ( the roof concert doesn't count, it was a torture) At least we had some other mastepieces with Lennon and Harrison solo albums and the Wings, but though.. Too bad that the greatest band of all time didn't experience the 70's, the greatest musical era of all time.

[@jackcuneo6098]

Nah man the 60s was the greatest era musically. Beatles were at their rightful place at the top. The stones were more than just a rock band with Brian jones’ influence. On the other side of the pond, Dylan was writing the poetry of the time, Brian Wilson was painting sonic pictures with just one working ear. Elvis was still thin. Everyone was doing acid. Commerciality and art had a healthy balance and didn’t step over the other. Even the bubblegum groups like the Monkees weren’t bad. 70’s had better movies though

[@ChristopherCudworth]

Billy Preston is a universal soul.

[@juancarlosrivera4419]

Billy was the full package... just like Prince... great musician...a terrific singer...and a great dancer....a super talented guy!!!

[@FlipDahlenburg]

Prince??? Sober up, man.

[@juancarlosrivera4419]

@@FlipDahlenburg hahahaha you got me!

[@Eric-q5w1z]

👌 Thanks from France 🇫🇷

[@saptonoistiawan3916]

BP is America contribution to further greatness the Beatles.

[@seanclark2531]

Great upload..Im a lifelong Beatles fan who just subscribed!👍

[@TheBeatlesWoW]

Thanks for the sub!

[@tymanngruter1808]

Even after this they split-up, such a tragedy.......

[@genxcraig]

this is awesome

[@danielbrown1724]

I can't imagine Get Back or Don't let me Down without Billy's piano licks

[@petejones879]

Billy Preston the 6th beatle 😊..... Bangla Desh benefit concert... George doing the line up roll call... I think that's everybody..... Oh we've forgotten Billy Preston.. That will stick in my mind forever

[@danielabatabogdanov8586]

his performance at Jools Holland is absolutely a must watch

[@meechneek]

Nice T-shirt

[@PirateRadioPodcasts]

Great musician. Aye. VERY dark personal life.

[@gerardmccavana4905]

Great clips

[@scottrgood]

So freaking cool. 😎

[@wilsonantonio6587]

Billy fifty beatle forever

[@JakJim1]

Billy and Billy

[@maxmiguel500]

Billy was great on Concert for George , I think the anniversary of Georges death .

[@Stonecutter334]

Yes that is a fair statement. He and George Martin absolutely rescued those sessions. Along with Paul who wrote some great songs. Id say Harrison too on the songwriting but they weren’t very good to him here. They’ll be better during Abbey Road.

[@krisscanlon4051]

They started to behave much better. Billy was a catalyst and sort of answered the 5th member status. They seem energized with a new band member.

[@dreamericvoid4450]

Good move by George to distract from Yoko, Billy's traditional approach and presence was a good counter balance to Yoko's Avant garde distractions on John contribution. Allowed them to refocus and get the album done properly

[@sidemann8593]

Paul's face at 2:02. When a magic moment happens in the studio.

[@guyjiminjapan9824]

Thank you for the informative video.

[@poussy9252]

the beatles are gods

[@JismIsm-en4kz]

Freakin great solo on Get Back - J Lennon: "he's the guy"

[@EDGE71]

Billy Preston THE FIFTH BEATLE.

[@KekeElBecko]

Imagine Billy being in The Beatles proper. Even just one more album and a couple of gigs. Billy contributing songwriting and vocals. Oh well, at least we've got Let It Be, which is glorious. And Billy's illustrious solo career.

[@eddiep147]

He did play on some of Abbey Road. Organ on Something and I Want You (She's So Heavy).

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

Beatles should have played Live Aid with Billy and EC.

[@mitchjay2108]

well the 3 remaining Beatles at least , that would have been amazing !

[@nathanmiller2982]

Billy meets Billy.

[@justiceforjamespaulmccartney]

James Paul McCartney died in car crash on September 11 1966 and was replaced by William (Billy). This is the truth no matter what!

[@Thomas-xs2kq]

You probably believe in chem trails, don't you?

[@justiceforjamespaulmccartney]

@@Thomas-xs2kq Yes.

[@mandiferrer]

Billy Preston was the composer and original version of "You Are So Beautiful"... not Joe Cocker, as many people know

[@Glenjutsu1]

I personally think that he would've gotten a lot further in the world if he wasn't gay. Don't get me wrong I don't care that he was but it was a different time then. It wasn't openly known that he was gay but everyone knew it anyway. But I love Billy he's an amazing musician and his smile is infectious lol. If you don't believe me just look at him especially when he's with the Beatles he's literally cheesing from ear to ear in every scene!

[@harryblue9502]

Saville Row?!!

[@tj7870]

BP's piano was perfect for the beatles!

[@ch33psk8]

Some even say the 5th Beatle.

[@greatidea7808]

After a little coaching from Little Richard, Billy Preston was that secret sauce.

[@joeolson5467]

Yeah right

[@marclapointe368]

Without Yoko`s presence, the Beatles might have lasted longer. She was toxic to the group, knowingly or not.

[@Stonecutter334]

Easy to blame Yoko. But its ALL John. Whatever she did it’s because he told her too. Her ummm sounds didn’t help but its all down to John when it comes to her.

[@ArisleyMadernaz-hx3ex]

She was a total witch

[@davidmathews2599]

Yoko may not have broken up the Beatles but she didn't help either.

[@robertlaguirremusic7381]

No doubt! Billy would have been a much better fit. John gave her to much power

[@greenbeans575]

From what I have seen, she was noticably quiet. She usually just sat and observed. It's not like she was involving herself in decision making, criticizing or instigating fights. Time to admit that you simply don't like her and stop making excuses. Jealous?

[@paulmassey4796]

RINGO STAR also asked My Friend TIM HEDING to PLAY Piano on a RINGO Track with BILLY TIM HEDING Turned RINGO DOWN he SAID He was the BADDEST B3 Player in LOS ANGELOS no NO TIM Said it was the WORST MISTAKE he EVER MADE TIM HEDING played with JAMES BROWN LONNIE MACK DELANEY and BONNIE MARSHALL TUCKER GREGG ALLMAN! TRUE 😊

[@wayawolf1967]

I thought the fif beatle was Clarence. (Eddie Murphy)

[@meyou-dv8ns]

We are all writing all these things we are saying like if we didn't already know everything we qfre saying back in 1972 when we Beatle freaks read every book written about them. Ok, now it's by turn to say something that I and you have known for the last 60 years or so- ok. here it is --------->. The Beatles would break up soon after the Let it be film was done doing only one more album, it was called Abbey Road.

[@Jay-yy9ol]

Hi. Drug use always messes us up. Imagine if all of us avoided turning down that road, what a different place the world would have been. Anyone who sells drugs below board, should stop. Thanks.

[@danielmiller210]

I do miss Billy Preston if they would have kept Yoko out of the band room and kept him in God knows what they had accomplished

[@RJLKMRD]

I heard at one point that Paul McCartney was verbally abusive to Linda in the seventies and basically said that he could have Billy on the keys instead of her, and that, has made me question him a bit more as a man, but obviously McCartney knew what Billy brought to them

[@michaelamanek8908]

What about Clapton on Back in the USSR on guitar ? That was the first.

[@ChristopherHolmgren]

No. EC was on While my Guitar Gently Weeps (1968) but he was uncredited. Before that I believe the flute player on Hide Your Love Away was credited but maybe not on all country releases.

[@Thomas-xs2kq]

No Clapton on that song.

[@robertdevoy3119]

It's possible Paul didn't want him in the band because Paul was the dominant keyboard player and keyboard composer at that time. Every song that Billy played on improved the song and added another interesting layer to the sound. Also, Billy was developing into a fine songwriter himself which would have caused a problem. Every album probably would have needed to be a double album to accommodate all the great songs that would have emerged.

[@jasonb68754]

Billy was refreshing as a guest in the room partly because he was such a contrast to Yoko who was such a downer as a s guest in the room.

[@opticscolossalandepicvideo4879]

In later years he was arrested for child porn and insurance fraud. The child pornographers charge resulted in an offer from Pete Townsend to play on his solo albums sadly

[@ChristopherHolmgren]

Not true.

[@Mst-bh9ti]

You're either woefully I'll informed, or a lier. It is well documented that Mr. Townsend was extremely foolish in how he went about investigating aspects of child porn. If he was a true pedophile, he would have been in prison long ago, as he would not have been able to refrain from illegal behavior. In reality, there hasn't even been a hint of a sniff of any problems since that situation.

[@Jim-pt8kk]

Most memorable part of that song was his memorable.piano playing

[@JerryKBunch]

I always suspected his childhood friend Andrae Crouch was gay, too. Both were fabulous musicians.

[@NaaHva]

Billy greeting Billy.

[@JohnNiemsMusic]

Yes indeed!

[@Jimmybarth]

Silly people

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​@@Jimmybarth You're being generous.

[@PaulFormentos]

@@Jimmybarth Silly Beatle runnin round....

[@spaceengineer1452]

During Abbey Rd, Billy started making suggestions about changing the songs... big mistake.

[@AlanSmitheeman]

Citation needed.

[@TheBeatlesWoW]

During Get Back there's no evidence of Billy suggesting any changes. A citation would be appreciated please

[@spaceengineer1452]

@@TheBeatlesWoW During Abbey Road. Where did I say Get Back ?

[@hammer44head]

@@spaceengineer1452 - from what source did you get info that Billy had suggested making any changes during Abbey Road, is the question dude?

[@mgonzales56]

I call bull.