THE music world was in mourning today after the death of keyboard legend Billy Preston.
A former teen prodigy on the piano and organ, Preston lent his gospel touch to classics such as the Beatles' Get Back and the Rolling Stones' Can't You Hear Me Knocking?
Earning the nickname the "fifth Beatle", Preston was involved with the Let It Be and Abbey Road albums as well as the White Album. He took part in the group's final rooftop concert and confirmed his Beatles connection in atribute concertfor George Harrison at Royal Albert Hall.
Preston, who had been in a coma since November after battling with chronic kidney failure, also worked with the Rolling Stones, penned Joe Cocker's You Are So Beautiful and had his own series of hit singles with Motown, including the Syreeta duet With You I'm Born Again.
Today Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger described the 59-year-old, who who died in Phoenix, Arizona, as a "fantastic and gifted musician".
Jagger added: "Billy was a fantastic and gifted musician . . . a superb singer in both recording sessions and on-stage. "He was great fun to be with on-stage and I will miss him a lot."
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