Personal Info
Birth date
1946-09-02 (78 Years)
Day of death
2006-06-06
Gender
Male
Known for
Acting
Place of birth
Houston, Texas, USA
Also known as
William Everett Preston
Billy Preston
Biography
William Everett Preston was an American musician, whose work encompassed R&B, rock, soul, funk, and gospel. Preston was a top session keyboardist in the 1960s, during which he backed artists such as Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Everly Brothers, Reverend James Cleveland, The Rolling Stones, and the Beatles.
Filmography
Saturday Night Live
7
Overview:
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.459
Overview:
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night. For its first ten years, Carson's Tonight Show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California; in May 1972, the show moved permanently to Burbank, California. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked #12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.The Mike Douglas Show
5.375
Overview:
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that originally aired only in the Cleveland area during much of its first two years on the air. It then went into syndication in 1963 and remained on television until 1982. It was distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations in Cleveland and Philadelphia.Classic Albums
7.7
Overview:
A documentary series about pop and rock albums that are considered the best or most distinctive of a well-known band or musician or that exemplify a stage in the history of music.Dinah!
6.667
Overview:
Dinah's show premiered 9 September 1974 and continued through to 4 September 1981. She started out the 70's with Dinah's Place which usually featured one guest and was more of a home oriented show about cooking, crafts and occasionally music. This format lasted until May of 1974. When the show came back in October of 1974 the format had changed drastically to a variety talk show which was called Dinah. and went on until 1981. This show was also known as "Dinah and Friends" during the summer of 1976.The Midnight Special
7.833
Overview:
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981. The ninety-minute program followed the Friday night edition of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The show typically featured guest hosts, except for a period from July 1975 through March 1976 when singer Helen Reddy served as the regular host. Wolfman Jack served as the announcer and frequent guest host. The series also occasionally aired vintage footage of older acts. As the program neared the end of its run in the early 1980s, it began to frequently use lip-synched performances rather than live. The program also featured occasional comedic performances such as Richard Pryor and Andy Kaufman.Donny & Marie
6.714
Overview:
Donny & Marie is an American variety show which aired on ABC from January 1976 to January 1979. The show stars brother and sister pop duo Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond. Donny had first become popular singing in a music group with his brothers, The Osmonds, and Marie was one of the youngest singers to reach #1 on the Billboard Country Music charts. The siblings were offered a weekly show by ABC-TV President Fred Silverman after he saw the duo co-host a week on The Mike Douglas Show which followed their series of popular remakes of oldies, such as "I'm Leaving It Up To You", "Morning Side Of The Mountain", "Deep Purple" and "Make The World Go Away". Donny and Marie were the youngest entertainers in TV history to host their own variety show. A year later, The Keane Brothers would break this record.The Beatles: Get Back
8.399
Overview:
The three-part documentary series, compiled from over 60 hours of unseen footage, captures the warmth, camaraderie, and creative genius that defined the legacy of music's most iconic foursome. The series also includes – for the first time in its entirety – The Beatles' final performance at London's Savile Row.Musikladen
NYR
Overview:
Der Musikladen was a West German music television programme that ran from December 13, 1972 to November 29, 1984. The show continued the 1960s Beat-Club under a new name, and in turn was replaced by Extratour.Blues Brothers 2000
5.285
Overview:
Finally released from prison, Elwood Blues is once again enlisted by Sister Mary Stigmata in her latest crusade to raise funds for a children's hospital. Hitting the road to re-unite the band and win the big prize at the New Orleans Battle of the Bands, Elwood is pursued cross-country by the cops.Rock Concert
8
Overview:
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert is an American television music variety show that ran during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Don Kirshner and syndicated to television stations. It premiered on September 27, 1973, with a performance by The Rolling Stones; its last episode was in 1981.Ticker
3.639
Overview:
Ray Nettles, a detective of San Francisco, and his partner Fuzzy must take up to one of the most dangerous terrorist gangs of the city. When one of the terrorists, the beautiful scientist Claire Manning is arrested, Swan, the leader of the terrorists, claims he will detonate bombs throughout the city if she is not released. Because of the possible bloodshed, Nettles calls for the help of explosive expert Frank Glass...Concert for George
8.1
Overview:
As a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his passing, The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 . Organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne. A benefit for Harrison's Material World Charitable Foundation, the all-star concert took place on the day of the first anniversary of his death. Proceeds from the film also went to the Material World Charitable Foundation. The film was shot using discreet cameras from over twelve locations.Sunday Best
8
Overview:
The Ed Sullivan Show ran for more than a thousand episodes, and Sunday Best is packed with some of its greatest moments and performances. There are also interviews with legends like Harry Belafonte and Dionne Warwick, who offer a more intimate perspective on what Sullivan was like as a person and an ally. Within every frame of Sunday Best, there is an affection for the early days of television, but beneath the showbiz glitz, a human tenderness towards Ed Sullivan.Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
4.3
Overview:
A small town band makes it big, but loses track of their roots, as they get caught up into the big-time machinations of the music biz. Now, they must thwart a plot to destroy their home town. Built around the music of The Beatles, this musical uses some big name groups like Peter Frampton and Aerosmith.Good News
NYR
Overview:
Good News is an American sitcom that aired on UPN from 1997 to 1998. The series is a spin-off of the UPN series Sparks.Let It Be
7.6
Overview:
A documentary chronicling the Beatles' rehearsal sessions in January 1969 for their proposed "back to basics" album, "Get Back," later re-envisioned and released as "Let It Be."In Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s
NYR
Overview:
Filmmakers (and canyon residents) Alexander and Anne Christine Von Wetter filmed this documentary for German Television in the early 1970s as a revealing close-up of an extraordinary period in America. The camera masters and 16mm negative were consequently lost to a devastating fire. Luckily, a lone VHS copy had been made, which spent the next 30 years on the studio shelf. The VHS was found heavily damaged, but a restoration team managed to salvage a fair grade of quality, which has since been remastered.The Compleat Beatles
7.5
Overview:
Now, for the first time, you can re-live the Beatles legends with this stunning 2-hour musical “Rockumentary”. It’s all there from the wild exuberance of the early Cavern Club days through eight incredible years, to the grim finality of “Let It Be”. See John, Paul, George and Ringo in performance, on tour, in films, recording with George Martin and in rare footage never before seen. Narrated by Malcom McDowell.The Beatles: Get Back - The Rooftop Concert
8
Overview:
On the 30th of January, 1969, the Beatles performed an unannounced concert from the rooftop of their Apple Corps headquarters at Savile Row, within central London's office and fashion district. Experience the final and unforgettable iconic performance of The Beatles in a special 60-minute presentation, digitally remastered into the image and sound quality of IMAX DMR technology.Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
7.833
Overview:
Untold stories behind the culture-defining and newsmaking musical performances, sketches and cameos of the past 50 years.Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival
8.4
Overview:
Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2004 Recorded Live at the Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas Captures Highlights from Festival With Performances and Collaborations by Guitar Wizards Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, John Mayer, Robert Cray, Robbie Robertson, Sheryl Crow, Derek Trucks and MoreSt. Louis Blues
7.6
Overview:
Will Handy grows up in Memphis with his preacher father and his Aunt Hagar. His father intends for him to use his musical gifts only in church, but he can't stay away from the music of the streets and workers. After he writes a theme song for a local politician, Gogo, a speakeasy singer, convinces Will to be her accompanist. Will is estranged from his father for many years while he writes and publishes many blues songs. At last the family is reunited when Gogo brings them to New York to see Will's music played by a symphony orchestra.Genius. A Night for Ray Charles
7.313
Overview:
A meld of legendary performers and contemporary artists of today who have been influenced by Ray's music perform in this concert extravaganza.Rollin' On The River
NYR
Overview:
Rollin' On The River 1971-72 - (Rollin 1972-73) was a Canadian Music Variety Series hosted by Kenny Rogers and The First Edition. They were the first pop-rock group to host their own prime-time TV series. - 53 episodes x 60 min - Featured guests included: Tina Turner, Merle Haggard, Bo Diddley, April Wine, Bill Withers, The Raiders, Cheech & Chong, The Stampeders, Bruce Cockburn, The Grass Roots, The Five Man Electrical Band, Lighthouse, Climax, Billy Preston, Jim Croce, Kris Kristofferson, Jose Feliciano, Mac Davis, Ronnie Hawkins, John Kay, Chilliwack, Looking Glass, The James Gang, The Poppy Family, Ian & Sylvia, Pat Paulsen, Helen Reddy, Andy Kim, John Stewart and many others. *Note: The series was an hour long in Canada. In the U.S. it was only half an hour, and Canadian talents were excised from the show for prime-time viewing.The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1973
9
Overview:
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981. The ninety-minute program followed the Friday night edition of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The show typically featured guest hosts, except for a period from July 1975 through March 1976 when singer Helen Reddy served as the regular host. Wolfman Jack served as the announcer and frequent guest host. The program's theme song, a traditional folk song called "Midnight Special", was performed by Johnny Rivers.Acting
2025Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music as Self
2023Sunday Best as Self (archive footage)
2022The Beatles: Get Back - The Rooftop Concert as Self (archive footage)
2021The Beatles: Get Back (1 Episode) as Self
2021The Beatles: Let It Be as Unknown
2017In Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s as Self
2015Kings of Soul as Self (archive footage)
2014Delaney & Bonnie & Friends: Live In Denmark 1969 as Self
2010Rappin' With The Rickster as Self
2009Motown at the BBC as Self
2007The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1980 as Self
2006The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1975 as Self
2005George Harrison & Friends - The Concert for Bangladesh Revisited as Self
2005The Derby Stallion as Will Gentry
2005The Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent as Self (archive footage)
2004Eric Clapton: Sessions for Robert J as Self
2004Genius. A Night for Ray Charles as Self
2004Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival as Self
2003Concert for George as Self
2003Alan Simon – Gaia as Self
2001Eric Clapton: One More Car One More Rider as Self - Hammond B-3 Organ, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
2001Ticker as Blues Band Organ
1998Blues Brothers 2000 as The Louisiana Gator Boys
1997Good News (22 Episodes) as Billy
1997Classic Albums (1 Episode) as Self
1990Billy Preston: In Concert - Ohne Filter as Self
1990Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band as Self
1990The Kingdom Chums - Original Top Ten as Marvelous Mose (voice)
1984Blame It on the Night as Billy Preston
1982The Compleat Beatles as Self
1982Na sowas! (1 Episode) as Self
1979Okay (1 Episode) as Self
1978Stony Island as Self
1978Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band as Sgt. Pepper
1978Bio’s Bahnhof (1 Episode) as Self
1977Rolling Stone Magazine: The 10th Anniversary as Self
1976Donny & Marie (1 Episode) as Self
1975Saturday Night Live (1 Episode) as Self - Musical Guest
1975The Rolling Stones: L.A. Friday (Live 1975) as Unknown
1975Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1 Episode) as Self
1974George Harrison: Live in North America 1974 as Unknown
1974Dinah! (2 Episodes) as Self
1973The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1973 as Self
1973Rock Concert (1 Episode) as Self
1972Musikladen (1 Episode) as Self
1972The Midnight Special (3 Episodes) as Self
1972The Concert for Bangladesh as Self
1971Rollin' On The River (1 Episode) as Unknown
1970Let It Be as Self (uncredited)
1969The Price of Fame or Fame at any Price (5 Episodes) as Self
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (3 Episodes) as Self
1961The Mike Douglas Show (1 Episode) as Self
1958St. Louis Blues as Will Handy as a Boy