Newspaper Taxis

Celebs, Fans Pay Respects To Singer Billy Preston
(AP) INGLEWOOD, Calif. Little Richard and Joe Cocker are among hundreds who joined together Tuesday in Inglewood to say farewell to
Billy Preston.

A brass band played “Amazing Grace” during a service filled with tributes to the prolific songwriter and musician.

Richard toured with Preston in the early 1960s. He told the crowd that filled Faithful Central Bible Church’s Tabernacle
Worship Center that Preston “made that piano walk and talk.”

Cocker sang the ballad “You Are So Beautiful,” which Preston wrote but was made famous by the raspy-voiced singer.

Other musical guests included singer Merry Clayton, who said she had known Preston since they were children growing up in Los Angeles. They both toured with Ray Charles.

Preston, who was often called “The 5th Beatle”, died June 6th in Scottsdale, Arizona, at age 59.