Simran Joshi
Billy Preston, the legendary singer-songwriter and keyboardist often referred to as “the fifth Beatle,” takes center stage in a new documentary, Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It.
Premiering at the DOC NYC festival on November 17, the film delves into Preston’s extraordinary musical journey, his pivotal collaborations with the Beatles, and his enduring bond with George Harrison.
Directed by Paris Barclay and featuring insights from icons like Ringo Starr and Eric Clapton, the documentary highlights Preston’s transformative impact on music, from the Beatles’ Let It Be sessions to his own chart-topping hits.
Billy Preston: The “Fifth Beatle” and His Bond with George Harrison
Billy Preston’s talent and charisma left an indelible mark on the Beatles; he came to be known as the “fifth Beatle” during the Let It Be sessions in 1969. John Lennon admired his electric piano skills to say the least, declaring him an integral part of their process. However, the connection or bond he shared with George Harrison was what was different.
“George and Billy bonded in a way the others didn’t,” Olivia Harrison reveals in the documentary. “He was sure of Billy the moment he laid eyes on him.” A bond in mutual recognition and deep understanding, above and beyond music, formed the basis of their enduring friendship even after the Beatles’ disbandment in 1970.
A Legacy of Partnership: Abbey Road to the Concert for Bangladesh
But Preston’s impact was broader than simply Abbey Road. He played Hammond organ on a hit by Harrison, “Something,” and inspired Harrison to produce Preston’s hit 1969 single “That’s the Way God Planned It.” “I played it to George – he loved it,” Preston recalls of the pleasure of working with musical icons like Eric Clapton and Keith Richards on the record.
Despite the break-up, Harrison remained in the studio with Preston. Harrison co-produced Preston’s 1970 album Encouraging Words, cuts on which included “Sing One for the Lord” and the first radio airing of the world-famous “My Sweet Lord.” Director Paris Barclay credits Preston’s impact by saying, “He sat in and made everyone around him better — the Beatles, the Stones, Aretha, Elton, and many more.”
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