EXCLUSIVE: Here’s your first U.S. trailer for music doc-biopic Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It, which Abramorama is releasing stateside from February 20.
The film, which overcame a legal challenge on the eve of its 2024 SXSW debut, charts the story of legendary keyboardist and Grammy winner Preston who played with The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Little Richard and many others.
Preston generated his own No. 1 hits, including Outa-Space, Will It Go Round in Circles, Nothing from Nothing, and You Are So Beautiful. His first hit single, That’s The Way God Planned It – recorded in 1969 for The Beatles’ Apple Records – was produced by his lifelong friend, George Harrison. Fifteen years after his death in 2006, Preston was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2021.
Despite his preternatural talent, Preston had a challenging personal story, including childhood abuse, addiction, run-ins with the law and demons he battled over his sexuality.
Directed by multi-Emmy winner Paris Barclay (Glee), the film is produced by Stephanie Allain, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Nigel Sinclair, Cheo Hodari Coker with executive producers Olivia Harrison and Jonathan Clyde.
Score was composed by multi-Grammy winner Robert Glasper and Derrick Hodge. Executive producers also include Paris Barclay, Daniel Shaw, G. Marq Roswell, and White Horse Pictures’ Nicholas Ferrall and Cassidy Hartmann.
The film’s sales rights are represented by White Horse Pictures’ Nigel Sinclair and UTA Independent Film Group’s Rena Ronson and Travis Tammero. Exec producers include Olivia Harrison and Jeffrey Lurie.