Billy Preston was an iconic keyboardist who played with legends like Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, the Everly Brothers, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. He was also a solo artist who released hits like “That’s the Way God Planned It” and “Will It Go Round in Circles.” One of his biggest songs, which earned him a Grammy, was titled “Outa-Space.”
Even though Preston thought this instrumental had what it took to become a major hit, his label, A&M Records, wasn’t convinced at first. They originally issued this 1971 tune as the B-side of “I Wrote a Simple Song.” However, “I Wrote a Simple Song” peaked at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart while “Outa-Space” rose all the way to No. 2. The only song above it was Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.”
During a 1985 interview with Beatles Unlimited, Preston spoke about performing the song with The Rolling Stones. “It was exciting for both of us,” he said. “The first time they ever played in the key of E Flat was when they played my song 'Outa Space.' They were thrilled because of that. When I did that song in the show and started dancing, Mick Jagger would come out and chase me around the stage, and he had a thing he used to swing over the audience.”
Preston also discussed how passionate he was about his career, saying, “Music is my life. I’ve been playing since I was three years old. I never worked at any other job. I don’t know anything else but music.”
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In 2021, Preston was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He died in 2006. When speaking about the legend passing at only 59, music director Rick McNulty said, “He may have had one of the last No. 1 hits that was an instrumental: ‘Outa-Space.’ And then he actually wrote one of the biggest songs of that era. He didn’t sing it, at least not the hit version: ‘You Are So Beautiful’ with Joe Cocker.”
At his funeral, Cocker performed this iconic song, Little Richard delivered a eulogy, and letters were read from Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton.
As one fan said, “RIP one of the most underrated musical legends who ever graced this planet.”
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