A new film, Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It, explores the life of the Grammy-winning musician Billy Preston, from his early gospel roots to collaborations with icons like The Beatles. Directed by Paris Barclay and produced by Stephanie Allain, the documentary highlights Preston's genius while addressing his personal struggles with addiction, abuse, and faith. It is now playing in theaters across North America.
Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It traces the career of the musician who began as a five-year-old gospel prodigy backing Mahalia Jackson and was later mentored by Ray Charles and Little Richard. At age 15, while touring with Little Richard, Preston met The Beatles, leading to his nickname as the "Fifth Beatle" and collaborations with artists including Barbra Streisand, Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, and Neil Diamond.
Preston achieved solo success with hits such as “Outa-Space,” “Will It Go Round in Circles,” and “Nothing From Nothing,” the latter two reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The film, inspired by a book proposal titled Round in Circles by Daniel Shaw, also delves into Preston's challenges, including addiction, legal issues, early sexual abuse, and conflicts over his sexuality and faith, which he reconciled before his death in 2006.
Director Paris Barclay emphasizes Preston's influence: “When you’re talking about the foundation of popular music, it’s Black music. And Billy shows that incredibly well. Because of his foundation in gospel and the blues tradition of that, he was able to pollinate that around all sorts of pop and rock musicians going all the way through to rap artists who have sampled him.” Producer Stephanie Allain adds, “He could just slip into any genre and, as Eric Clapton says, be the glue.”
The documentary includes poignant reflections, such as Gloria Jones's question, “How did we let this boy get away?,” which Barclay describes as capturing regret among those who loved Preston. Sandra Crouch, a pastor, asks, “Can you imagine if church was really what it says it is?,” highlighting tensions within the Black church. Billy Porter notes that “everybody knows there are queens in the church,” addressing hypocrisy.
Barclay and Allain approached the story “through the eyes of love,” balancing triumphs and hardships. Barclay's favorite Preston song is “Morning Star,” while Allain favors “I Wrote a Simple Song” and others. The title draws from a George Harrison-produced track, prompting reflection on Preston's life path.
