Documentary Review: ‘Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It’

by | Feb 18, 2026 | Featured Post, Movie Reviews, Movies | 0 comments


Greetings again from the darkness. That electric smile with the front tooth gap always seemed to accompany the amazing keyboard work of the great Billy Preston. This superb documentary from Paris Barclay proves the musicianship was otherworldly, but also that the Billy Preston smile often hid the pain, hardship, and history of the man.

The film opens on stage in 1971 at the Concert for Bangladesh, organized by Preston’s friend and former Beatle, George Harrison. The concert, and the corresponding film and (legendary) album were fundraisers for refugees of the Bangladesh Liberation War. We witness Preston’s joy as he leaps from the piano bench to dance across the stage as other musicians jammed – Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Ringo Starr, etc. it’s not surprising to learn that Preston was a piano prodigy at age three, and early on played gospel music at church.

Billy Preston’s career found him playing with everyone from Ray Charles to Nat King Cole to The Beatles (that’s him on the Apple roof in 1969) to The Rolling Stones to Red Hot Chili Peppers. Rock guitar legend Eric Clapton is interviewed for the film and his respect for Preston is as obvious as his frustration at not being able to help him more during times of personal crisis. Preston’s life struggles included being sexually abused at an early age, confusion and difficulties with his sexuality, a scandal that got him arrested, and a drug conviction and insurance fraud conviction that landed him in prison. Despite a kidney transplant in 2002, Preston’s health deteriorated and he passed away in 2005 at age 59.

There is a terrific clip from “Shindig”, and we see/hear Preston do a spot-on impersonation of Ray Charles. Singer Merry Clayton gushes over his talent and the role of A&M Records is discussed. The uniqueness of Preston is emphasized with a comment about his ‘Ranch and Rolls’. He loved riding horses and driving luxury cars. Billy Preston’s lasting impact on music can be noted on so many songs, but perhaps the most touching is the song he wrote for his mother, “You are So Beautiful” (made famous by Joe Cocker). Director Paris Barclay pulls no punches in providing a 360-view of Preston as a man who faced obstacles and challenges and as a musician posthumously inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. I’ll view his smile a bit differently now, while also admiring his music even more.

Premiering On February 20th at NYC’s Film Forum.

David Ferguson
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