Everybody knows the song" You Are So Beautiful", performed by Joe Cocker who sings the fucking balls off it! But Mr. Cocker didn't write that song. Though he is famous by it along with a few others. Actually, Billy Preston wrote that song, and many others. Billy Preston with his fucked-up afro and fucked-up teeth and fucked-up quirky self wrote that TIMELESS song, among a slew of other great contributions. And he also played on many a Beatles record and many a Stones record (Exile on Main Street!!) and was a major influence to both bands as well as many other breakthrough groups. What's the point? Well, Billy Preston died last night. He was the original, the official, "Fifth Beatle"!!! McCartney will tell you so himself! Preston was so underground/industry huge that even Miles Davis wrote a song named after him. Preston was so big and so "in" with the Beatles' creative process that Lennon had him co-write and co-perform many of the songs that are on Lennon's solo record! His SOLO record!! Preston is dead and the world loved his music but only the die-hards actually know who he was. The world loved his pure idea, his beautiful outlook on life, his art and music; and the world was ok with the fact that they loved it and it could come from anywhere. And he was ok letting us think that way! FUCK RECOGNITION! He was so loved in the art world, yet so undisected and so underappreciated in the common world, in our world. THAT, as an artist, is the ultimate sacrifice! That, as a TRUE artist, is a genuine lust for life, a genuine submission to the muse and to creativity. THAT, is a complete defiance of EGO! Excuse me, but I will not be putting on any Billy Preston right now, because i wrote this little blurb and i dont know fully who he is to defend my public appreciation in such a personal manner. I didn't "follow" him or his career. Nor should you give him a listen if this stupid blog is news to you. You don't deserve it! Wait until later. WAIT. And listen when there's a chance that it will matter.