Cottonwood Premiere: Billy Preston

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present “Monday Movies on Main” on Monday, April 6 with the Cottonwood premiere of “Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It” at 7 p.m. at Old Town Center for the Arts. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, studio outtakes, and rare photos, “Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It” is an exhilarating documentary about the legendary Grammy-winning musician whose signature sound shaped the work of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin, and countless others. Billy Preston was perhaps the most unsung musical hero of his time. Born in Houston, Texas, in 1946, he arrived in Los Angeles with his family three years later. At just 5 years old, he was backing gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. By age 10, he was appearing with Ray Charles on film, and by age 15, he was touring with Little Richard in Hamburg, Germany, where he met Richard’s opening act — The Beatles. He would later perform and record with the biggest names in music, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and countless others. He generated his own unforgettable No. 1 hits, including “Outa-Space,” “Will It Go Round in Circles,” “Nothing from Nothing,” and “You Are So Beautiful” — and his first hit single in 1969, on The Beatles’ Apple Records, “That’s The Way God Planned It,” produced by his lifelong friend, George Harrison. “Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It” will show at Old Town Center for the Arts on Monday, April 6 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 general admission and $9 for Film Festival members and $10 for students. Movie concessions will be available, including beer, wine, soft drinks, water, popcorn and a selection of movie candy. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Tickets can also be ordered in advance online at the BUY TICKETS link to the right. Old Town Center for the Arts is located…