Biography

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.

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.

Sometimes labeled The Fifth Beatle.

Remained close to George Harrison until his death in 2001.