A new documentary spotlighting the extraordinary life of soul legend Billy Preston is heading to theaters. ‘Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It,’ directed by Emmy winning filmmaker Paris Barclay, opens at Film Forum in New York City before expanding to additional North American markets. The film explores the remarkable six decade career of the GRAMMY winning keyboardist whose unmistakable sound shaped recordings by The Beatles, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones and countless others.
Preston was one of the rare musicians credited alongside The Beatles on a record label and famously joined the group during their final rooftop performance. His own solo catalog produced major hits including “Outa-Space,” “Will It Go Round in Circles,” and “Nothing from Nothing,” songs that helped define the sound of 1970s soul and pop.
Directed by Barclay and produced by Stephanie Allain, Jeanne Elfant Festa and Nigel Sinclair, the documentary brings together archival footage, interviews and new music to illuminate Preston’s influence across multiple generations of artists. The film also features a score from multi GRAMMY winners Robert Glasper and Derrick Hodge.
‘Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It’ premiered at SXSW and has screened at festivals including DOC NYC, Palm Springs International Film Festival and Mill Valley Film Festival, where audiences celebrated the story of one of music’s most important keyboard innovators.