Billy Preston, who the Beatles first met in Hamburg in the early 1960s when he was touring with Little Richard’s band, dropped by the studio to say “hello.” He was in London to take part in a BBC television program. He was invited to play piano and keys at this session and his involvement was said to greatly improve the mood and the band’s focus on the songs. After the Let It Be sessions, Preston released two albums on the Apple label, and three million-selling singles in the early 1970s. He then spent several years touring and recording with the Rolling Stones, while also appearing on solo albums by George, John and Ringo. In later years, he struggled with addiction and served time on drug and alcohol charges in the 1990s. He died of kidney failure in 2006 at the age of 59.Photos are from the January 22, 1969 sessions.
