LOS ANGELES (By Paula Witt/ ShoreFire PR) - The late Billy Preston would have turned 60 on
September 2nd. According to his dear friend and manager, Joyce Moore, he was really looking forward to marking the milestone birthday and had started planning a television special and big concert to celebrate the event.
Tragically the world lost Billy on June 6th.
Moore and her husband, the legendary Sam Moore, are asking radio around the world to begin playing his last recording on his birthday, this Saturday, September 2nd at noon to celebrate and remember Preston and his vast contribution to music.
Before Billy fell ill he participated in the recording of this version of his great Billy Preston authored composition, "You Are So Beautiful," with his dear friend Sam Moore for Sam's newly released (Aug 29, 2006) album "Sam Moore Overnight Sensational." His sudden coma moved Sam, Joyce and the album's producer Randy Jackson to find a way to complete the track as a loving and respectful tribute to their Billy P that includes vocals from both Preston and Moore and the rarely recorded second verse of the song. (The verse Joe Cocker never tracked.)
TO DOWNLOAD THE SINGLE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT: https://www.onthescene.com/mnr/BillyPreston/billy.htm
Eric Clapton, another dear friend of Billy's, was devastated by Billy's sudden critical medical condition and added a passionate and emotional guitar solo to the recording.
Robert Randolph and Zucchero also lent support and love to Billy on the track that Billy heard and reacted with tears welling in his eyes while he was fighting to regain full consciousness in the hospital before he passed.
Sam and Billy likely are the only two artists to ever have performed the song's 2nd verse that so poignantly fits the mood and the moment... "such joy and happiness you bring, such joy and happiness you bring, just like a dream, my guiding light, my shining star, I'm going to love you where ever you are... you are so beautiful to me..."
Preston's career highlights include stints with The Stones, The Family Stone, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Mahalia Jackson, Aretha and of course the last three albums with The Beatles as well as the last ever of their performances on the roof, The Concert for Bangladesh, The Concert for George, tours with Clapton, George, Ringo and a stellar solo career singing and/or playing on monster hits "Out A Space," "Nothing From Nothing" and "Will It Go Round In Circles."
He and Moore were best friends since Billy was a child prodigy and they were out on the road with gospel great Mahalia Jackson.
