Pianist/organist Billy Preston was arrested for assaulting a 16-year-old transvestite today (August 18, 1991).
The incident unfolded in Los Angeles California, after the 16-year-old claimed Preston offered him a ride.
The two smoked cocaine in the car, while Billy Preston showed pornographic pictures.
The two were about to have a tryst in a barn at Preston’s Malibu home, when he realized that what he thought was a female prostitute, was really a 16-year-old transvestite.
Billy Preston was charged with sexual assault, cocaine possession and exhibiting pornography to a minor.
The arrest came during a down time for Billy Preston, who battled drug dependency in the 1990s.
Drug issues aside, Billy Preston was a prodigy on the piano, who began behind Mahalia Jackson at the age of 10.
During his long and illustrious career, he worked with a who’s who from Little Richard and Sam Cooke, to Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin.
The Beatles considered Billy Preston the fifth member of the group, while The Rolling Stones featured him as a permanent member from 1973–1977.
As an artist on the Beatles’ Apple label, Billy Preston released two albums, That’s The Way God Planned It and Encouraging Words.
Both albums featured artists like Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, George Harrison and others.
In 1971, Billy Preston released his album I Wrote A Simple Song, which included his hit single “Outa Space.”
In 1972, and 1973 Billy Preston hit the charts with the songs “Will It Go Round In Circles,” and “Space Race.”
In 1974, Billy Preston released his album The Kids & Me, which included his best known song “Nothing From Nothing,” as well as the original version of “You Are So Beautiful,” which was a hit for Joe Cocker.
Waxfact: The Beatles #1 song “Get Back” was released as “The Beatles with Billy Preston.”