That's The Way God Planned It

It was one year ago today that we lost one of the most important sidemen in the history of music. I can confidently say that no one else has performed along with more of the most significant figures in rock n' roll history that the one and only Billy Preston. He has played with artists ranging from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Ray Charles, George Harrison, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, Sammy Davis Jr., Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin, the Jackson 5, Quincy Jones, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Unless you've read his Wikipedia profile, I bet you didn't know that he was invited to become a member of The Band in 1991, after the death of their piano player, Stan Szelest. He completed a tour, but legal problems put an end to the collaboration before they had a chance to record together in the studio. Preston's final contributions were the Gospel-tinged organ on the Neil Diamond album 12 Songs, and his keyboard work on The Road to Escondido by Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale.

Please take a moment to honor the fifth Beatle by watching his performance of 'That's The Way God Planned It' on Later with Jools Holland from June 2005, five months before he slipped into a coma that he would never come out of.

Rest In Peace Billy.