the Beatles legendary rooftop performance, which featured Billy Preston making a guest appearance on the keys. That led me to putting on his music while cleaning up around the house. His classic single 'Nothing from Nothing' came on, and I realized I'd never actually listened to the whole album that is was from, so I did just that, and found some really interesting album tracks! Before we get there, we need a bit of a bio: Billy Preston was born in Houston, TX in 1946, and from pretty early on was involved in music professionally, as he was considered a prodigy, never taking lessons yet mastering performance and complex concepts. At 11, he sang with Nat King Cole on TV (on vocals), and had been playing backing organ for various groups. He joined Little Richard's backing band in 1962, and while touring with the group, met The Beatles, who he developed a friendship with. He would perform on their albums, as well as the aforementioned rooftop gig, providing some of their most classic piano and organ bits. Interestingly, he is one of only two musicians credited on Beatles outside of the band, and is the only artist credited as a co-performer after The Beatles became independent artists in the late '60s. Today's song is from his 1974 album The Kids & Me, which is the album that had his single 'Nothing from Nothing'. This is a VERY different type of song; it's mostly instrumental, and super funk influenced. I love the timbres of the various keys/organs/synths used, and it has such an infectious groove, you can't help but start moving.