[Slowhand] Billy Preston Ill

[Lauren Blatt]

Billy Preston Ill for Ray Charles Funeral

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN
.c The Associated Press 

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Singer-songwriter and keyboardist
Billy Preston missed friend Ray Charles' funeral on
Friday after being sidelined by a bacterial infection
that disrupted his usual kidney dialysis, his manager
said.

``It's not life-threatening, it's life-annoying,''
manager Joyce Moore told The Associated Press. ``We've
lost a lot of great people lately, but he's going to
be here for a while to come.''

Preston, a regular member of Eric Clapton's band, was
diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2001 and had
a kidney transplant in 2002.

He is currently recovering at Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center in Los Angeles after being admitted last
Saturday, Moore said.

Preston recently developed a bacteria in one of his
dialysis tubes, which spread into his body, she said.
He is currently being treated with antibiotics, but
doctors want him to rest and avoid crowds, where he
could pick up a cold that would further weaken his
condition.

He is best known for his work with the Beatles,
playing the organ on their song ``Get Back,'' and
touring with the Rolling Stones. His hits include
``Nothing From Nothing Leaves Nothing,'' ``Will It Go
Round in Circles?'' and ``You Are So Beautiful To
Me.''

Joe Adams, Charles' longtime manager, said at the
funeral that Preston was ``in tears'' because doctors
said he should avoid the funeral and stay at the
hospital.

``He watched the entire funeral on television and that
was better for him'' to participate in some way, Moore
said. ``He got a lot from Ray Charles and he knows he
needs to be well to carry that on.''

On the Net:

http://www.billypreston.net/ 	   


 
06/18/04 21:28 EDT
    Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. The
information contained in the AP news report may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise
distributed without the prior written authority of The
Associated Press.  All active hyperlinks have been
inserted by AOL.


		
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