Billy Byers | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Mitchell Byers May 1, 1927 Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Died | May 1, 1996 (aged 69) Malibu, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Instruments | Trombone |
William Mitchell Byers (May 1, 1927 – May 1, 1996) was an Americanjazz trombonist and arranger.
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]
Byers picked up trombone and played withKarl Kiffe before serving in theUnited States Army in 1944 and 1945.[3][2] In the second half of the 1940s he arranged and played trombone forGeorgie Auld,Buddy Rich,Benny Goodman,Charlie Ventura, andTeddy Powell.[2] Following this he composed forWMGM (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 asJazz on the Left Bank, at this time.[1][2] Later in the 1950s in Europe he played withHarold Arlen (1959–1960) and with the orchestra ofQuincy Jones.[2] He became Jones's assistant atMercury Records in the 1960s, and arranged forCount Basie albums.[2] He also recorded someDuke Ellington standards on his own.[2] He toured Europe and Japan alongsideFrank Sinatra in 1974.[2] Byers had extensive credits arranging and conducting for film,[2] and won theDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations forCity of Angels.[4]
Byers died inMalibu, California, on May 1, 1996.[1] Material from his career is held by theLibrary of Congress inWashington, D.C.[1]
WithCount Basie
WithBob Brookmeyer
WithAl Cohn
WithBilly Eckstine
WithColeman Hawkins
WithAl Jarreau
WithJ. J. Johnson
WithQuincy Jones
WithLee Konitz
WithJack McDuff
WithGary McFarland
WithHal McKusick
WithCarmen McRae
WithJoe Newman
WithLalo Schifrin
WithBud Shank
WithCharlie Shavers
WithJulius Watkins
WithAndy Williams
WithCootie Williams
WithKai Winding
WithFrank Zappa
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