Billy Byers

William Mitchell Byers

May 1, 1927
Los Angeles, California, U.S.

May 1, 1996 (aged 69)
Malibu, California, U.S.

Early life[edit]

Byers was born in Los Angeles on May 1, 1927.[1] He suffered from arthritis from a young age and was unable to continue his plans of a career as a pianist.[2]

Career[edit]

Byers picked up trombone and played with Karl Kiffe before serving in the United States Army in 1944 and 1945.[3][2] In the second half of the 1940s he arranged and played trombone for Georgie Auld, Buddy Rich, Benny Goodman, Charlie Ventura, and Teddy Powell.[2] Following this he composed for WMGM (AM) radio and television in New York City.[2] In the middle of the 1950s he was in Paris arranging; he also led a session of his own, released as Jazz on the Left Bank, at this time.[1][2] Later in the 1950s in Europe he played with Harold Arlen (1959–1960) and with the orchestra of Quincy Jones.[2] He became Jones's assistant at Mercury Records in the 1960s, and arranged for Count Basie albums.[2] He also recorded some Duke Ellington standards on his own.[2] He toured Europe and Japan alongside Frank Sinatra in 1974.[2] Byers had extensive credits arranging and conducting for film,[2] and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations for City of Angels.[4]

Personal life[edit]

Byers died in Malibu, California, on May 1, 1996.[1] Material from his career is held by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.[1]

The Jazz Workshop (RCA Victor, 1955)

(Jazztone, 1956) with Joe Newman - also released as Byers' Guide

New Sounds in Swing

Jazz on the Left Bank (Epic, 1956) with

Martial Solal

Impressions of Duke Ellington (Mercury, 1961)

. Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. March 6, 1941. p. 11

"Billy Byers Wins Juvenile Role in Community Play"

. Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. July 19, 1941. p. 11

"Conducts Class"

Markham, Jeanie (November 6, 1942). . The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. p. 13

"Campus Gad-About; Musically Speaking"

McIver, Don L. (June 24, 1956). . Fort Lauderdale News. p. 58.

"Billy Byers Hits Mark as Composer, Arranger"

Green, Benny (May 14, 1996). . The Guardian. p. 16.

"Jazz's Constant Horn"

discography at Discogs

Billy Byers

at IMDb

Billy Byers