Brian Preston began his life and his folk music career under his family name as Brian Dewhurst. He served his apprenticeship as a floor-singer and resident in the folk clubs of his native Lancashire through the early years of the Folk Revival. In 1966 he joined the highly-respected and popular band the Wayfarers where he continued to polish his trade. In 1970 he formed the semi-professional duo Horden Raikes with Ron Flanagan.
Brian turned professional as a solo artist in 1973, but continued to work with other musicians, notably with Tom Tiddler's Ground in the late '70s. A career shift to television required a change of name – Equity rules permit only one user of a "professional name" – and they already had a Brian Dewhurst on the books! So Brian adopted the name of his native town.