Billy Preston

Although he enjoyed a period of solo success with 1970s soul smashes like "Will It Go Round in Circles," "Nothing from Nothing," and the Grammy-winning funk instrumental "Outa-Space," keyboardist, singer, and songwriter Billy Preston was best known for his prolific work as a sideman and collaborator throughout R&B, rock, soul, and gospel music. A self-taught child prodigy, the Houston native cut his teeth as a teenager in the late '50s and early '60s backing up Little Richard, Sam Cooke, and later, Ray Charles. In 1969, he was invited to join the Beatles on their Let It Be sessions and their famous final rooftop concert. After this, Preston hit his commercial and creative stride as an artist, delivering a series of popular soul albums of his own and playing sideman to the Rolling Stones and George Harrison, among many others. Struggles with addiction curtailed his career in the '80s and early '90s, though even after his solo career had dried up, Preston remained a popular session player, working with Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, and Red Hot Chili Peppers in the early to mid-2000s.