Trivia

He was the only guest musician to receive credit on a record by The Beatles.

Was invited by George Harrison to join The Beatles (whom he'd met on tour years earlier) in the studio, as they filmed and recorded Let It Be (1970). The reason given was because the project was being done live, without overdubs, and they wanted a second keyboardist; his soulful style would complement the rhythm-and-blues songs they'd grown up on (and were reaching back to) perfectly. Another reason for his presence was to buffer the tensions growing among the Beatles, since filming began; everyone laid aside their differences, to make Preston feel welcome at the sessions.

Sometimes labeled The Fifth Beatle.

While he was never considered for permanent membership in The Beatles (despite stories to the contrary), he did continue his involvement with them through the end of the 1960s. Preston released two solo albums through Apple Records (The Beatles' label), collaborated with George Harrison on "All Things Must Pass" and The Concert for Bangladesh (1972), and later appeared in the all-star Beatles tribute Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), as the title character Sgt. Pepper.

Remained close to George Harrison until his death in 2001.

Began performing with Mahalia Jackson when he was just 10 years old.

Ernestine Wade, who played Sapphire Stevens on the TV series The Amos 'n Andy Show (1951), is widely--and incorrectly--reported as being his mother. His real mother's name is Robbie Lee Williams, who died February 2, 2005.

Received a kidney transplant in 2002.

Starts 3 year jail term for bail violation. (November 4, 1997)

Musician.

Duetted with Syreeta Wright on the top ten US/UK hit titled "With You I'm Born Again" (1980).

Along with famously being an "unofficial member" of The Beatles for the Let It Be Sessions, particularly their rooftop concert, the next decade he was an official member of The Rolling Stones from 1973 to 1976, playing two of his own songs live and inspiring the track Melody on Black And Blue, an album that's almost entirely R&B/Soul, befitting Preston's style even more than The Stones.