Doc10 Presents - BILLY PRESTON: THAT'S THE WAY GOD PLANNED IT

Doc10 Presents - BILLY PRESTON: THAT'S THE WAY GOD PLANNED IT

Thursday, February 27th @ 6:30pm

2024, dir. Paris Barclay; prod. Stephanie Allain, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Nigel Sinclair, Cheo Hodari Coker
USA, 104 min.

When he was just five years old, legendary keyboardist Billy Preston backed gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. At 23, he joined the Beatles on “Let It Be.” Over the years, the spirited musician known for his jubilant dancing and piano mastery collaborated with likes of Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and the Rolling Stones, all the while creating some of his own chart-topping hits like “Nothing from Nothing” and "Will It Go Round in Circles.” This mesmerizing, music-rich film charts the dazzling rise and tormented fall of this charismatic and soulful artist, who struggled deeply with his own sexuality.  With an original score by Robert Glasper and poignant interviews with Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, and Billy Porter, this “eye-opening” (Variety) and “must-see … definitive portrait” (POV Magazine) is both an empathetic look at a man’s personal struggles and a powerful testament to a towering musical talent.