Hammond B3 and the Metropolitan

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Uploaded on: August 14, 2011

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One of the greatest musical acts to play the Metropolitan was Houston born, Billy Preston.

Howard Skelton wanted to draw more people to the Midnght shows at the Met so he teamed up with KLOH 101.1 FM in Houston have local bands play on the big Metropolitan stage.

Billy Preston played his version of Houston Blues on the Hammond B3 with Leslie speaker to packed houses on Saturday mights.

He was an outstanding act and the sound he generated fromn the Hammond and Leslie combination would reverb the 5 story theater like no other band. The acoustics were so sharp in the Met that you really did not need a microphone to carry to the back of the Theater.

He performed in the late 60’s just before his discovery to play with The Beatles.

Here is a great site to hear him in action and the smooth Houston Blues that only BIlly Preston could deliver. He died in 2006, but his music and legend lives on.

http://b3grooves.com/2008/04/26/summertime-billy-preston/