Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It

Synopsis

With his signature gospel sound on the Hammond B3, Billy Preston doublehandedly elevated the greatest artists of his time – from the Beatles to the Rolling Stones, from Aretha Franklin to Eric Clapton, from Ray Charles to Barbra Streisand to Sly and the Family Stone. In our film, we explore Billy’s career and influence on generations of musicians, as he scored several number one hits of his own and became one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. He did all of this as a soul divided — by his deep roots in the church, in constant conflict with his identity as a gay Black man, searching for a family of his own that would accept him for who he was.

Trailer

Cast & Crew

Directed by:
Paris Barclay
Starring:
Billy Preston
Ringo Starr
Eric Clapton
Gloria Jones
Merry Clayton
Screenwriters:
Paris Barclay
Cheo Hodari Coker

Additional Information

Release Year:
2026
Run Time:
105 min
Original Language:
English
Country:
USA

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