Celebrating a soul legend: Billy Preston film to screen in Basalt

The energy and talent of a soul legend will be on display in a new documentary screening in Basalt.

“Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It” and a conversation with Executive Producer Daniel Shaw will take place at 7 p.m. March 5 at The Arts Campus at Willits.

The movie chronicles the life of Grammy Award-winning solo artist and keyboard prodigy Preston (1946-2006). Some refer to him as the “fifth Beatle” since he was the only person to ever receive co-billing on a Beatle single for “Don’t Let Me Down.”

The film boasts an impressive directing/producing/writing team.

“I totally and completely fell into the honey pot,” Shaw told The Aspen Times of the team put together by LA-based White Horse Pictures.

The film is directed by Emmy Award-winning Paris Barclay. He has directed nearly 200 episodes of television — from “NYPD Blues” and “Glee” to “The West Wing.” He’s also the former president of the Directors Guild of America.

Emmy-nominated Producer Stephanie Allain helmed “Boyz in the Hood” and “Hustle and Flow” and is a co-president of the Producers Guild of America.

The show was written by Barclay and lead writer Cheo Hodari Coker, who was a writer on “Creed II” and the “Notorious” B.I.G biopic, and a show-runner on “Luke Cage” and “Ray Donovan.”

Throughout Preston’s 60-year career, he contributed his signature sound to the greatest artists of his time including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Barbara Streisand, Sly Stone and many others.

“There’s a lot of music throughout the film, mostly clips and snippets, but a couple of whole or almost whole songs, from Billy playing with Nat King Cole when he was 10 up through his stealing the show at ‘The Concert for George’ in 2002,” Shaw said.

Shaw, who initiated the project, added, “We really tried to convey the breadth of Billy’s career as both a sideman and a solo artist, as well as the intricacies of playing the Hammond B3 organ, and he was among the best to ever play that instrument.”

Preston, who tended to keep his private life private, also grappled with the choices in his personal life, religion and his desire to be accepted.

Following the screening, Woody Creek resident Shaw —  who is known for his work appearing in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times, as well as being a harmonica player — will answer audience questions.

“I’ve been a music journalist on and off most of my life, and a musician and just a fan, and I loved Billy Preston from the time I was a kid jumping around in my room to ‘Nothing from Nothing’ and ‘Will It Go ‘Round in Circles,'” he said.

Run time is 105 minutes. For more information and tickets, visit tacaw.org/calendar/film-and-conversation-billy-preston-thats-the-way-god-planned-it.