Don Preston

Sacre Blues Don Preston

In the 1960s, Preston played with Delaney Bramlett and Chuck Blackwell in The Shindogs. Los Angeles in the mid-60s was the germinating ground of a new strain of blues rock, and Don Preston was at the heart of it along with J.J. Cale, Leon Russell, Chuck Blackwell, and David Gates. In 1970, Leon Russell put together an all-star band to back Joe Cocker for a national tour, a live double album, and a feature-length movie. The band, the album, and the movie were called 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen'. Every member of that band, including Don Preston, became legend, and it still is considered one of the best rock groups ever. When Leon Russell Launched his own record label - Shelter Records - largely on the strength of 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen,' then assembled a staff of musicians that represented a virtual aristrocracy of southern blues rock, a series of albums by Leon Russell and the Shelter people - with Don Preston on guitar and vocals - it helped define the musical attitude of an era. He later played on three albums with Freddie King and performed at the Concert for Bangladesh with George Harrison. Recently, he recorded an album with J.J. Cale, Closer To You. Don has also had albums on A&M Records, Shelter Records, and Stax Records.