William Mitchell Byers (May 1, 1927 – May 1, 1996) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

trombonist and arranger.

Early life

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

Career

Byers picked up trombone and played with Karl Kiffe before serving in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

in 1944 and 1945. In the second half of the 1940s he arranged and played trombone for Georgie Auld, Buddy Rich, Benny Goodman, Charlie Ventura, and Teddy Powell. Following this he composed for WMGM (AM) radio and television in New York City. 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. Later in the 1950s in Europe he played with

Harold Arlen Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck; February 15, 1905 – April 23, 1986) was an American composer of popular music, who composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide. In addition to composing the songs for the 1939 film ' ...

(1959–1960) and with the orchestra of

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. He became Jones's assistant at

Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. Mercury Records released ...

in the 1960s, and arranged for

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

albums. He also recorded some

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standards on his own. He toured Europe and Japan alongside

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in 1974. Byers had extensive credits arranging and conducting for film, and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations for '' City of Angels''.

Personal life

Byers died in Malibu, California, on May 1, 1996. Material from his career is held by the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...

in Washington, D.C.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

*''The Jazz Workshop'' (RCA Victor, 1955) *'' New Sounds in Swing'' ( Jazztone, 1956) with Joe Newman - also released as ''Byers' Guide'' *''Jazz on the Left Bank'' (Epic, 1956) with Martial Solal *''Impressions of Duke Ellington'' (Mercury, 1961)

As sideman

With

*'' More Hits of the 50's and 60's'' (Verve, 1963) - as arranger and conductor *'' Pop Goes the Basie'' (Reprise, 1965) - as arranger and conductor *'' Basie Swingin' Voices Singin''' (ABC-Paramount, 1966) with the Alan Copeland Singers With Bob Brookmeyer *'' Gloomy Sunday and Other Bright Moments'' (Verve, 1961) With Al Cohn *'' Mr. Music'' (RCA Victor, 1955) With Billy Eckstine *'' The Golden Hits of Billy Eckstine'' (Mercury, 1963) - as arranger With Coleman Hawkins *'' The Hawk in Hi Fi'' ( RCA Victor, 1956) - as arranger and conductor With Al Jarreau *'' Breakin' Away'' (Warner Bros., 1981) - as arranger With J. J. Johnson *'' Goodies'' (RCA Victor, 1965) as arranger/conductor With

*'' The Birth of a Band!'' (Mercury, 1959) *''

Quincy Jones Explores the Music of Henry Mancini ''Quincy Jones Explores the Music of Henry Mancini'' is an album by Quincy Jones that contains music composed by Henry Mancini. Track listing All music composed by Henry Mancini, lyricists indicated # "Baby Elephant Walk" – 2:49 # "Charade ( ...

'' (Mercury, 1964) * '' Golden Boy'' (Mercury, 1964) *'' Quincy Plays for Pussycats'' (Mercury, 1959-65 965 *'' The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones'' (Mercury, 1959) With Lee Konitz *'' You and Lee'' (Verve, 1959) With Jack McDuff *'' Prelude'' (Prestige, 1963) With Gary McFarland *'' The Jazz Version of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying"'' (Verve, 1962) With Hal McKusick *'' Triple Exposure'' (Prestige, 1957) With Carmen McRae *'' Something to Swing About'' (Kapp, 1959) With Joe Newman *'' I Feel Like a Newman'' (Storyville, 1956) With

Lalo Schifrin Boris Claudio "Lalo" Schifrin (born June 21, 1932) is an Argentine-American pianist, composer, arranger, and conductor. He is best known for his large body of film and TV scores since the 1950s, incorporating jazz and Music of Latin America, Lati ...

*'' Music from Mission: Impossible'' (Dot, 1967) With Bud Shank *'' Windmills of Your Mind'' (Pacific Jazz, 1969) With Charlie Shavers *Excitement Unlimited (Capitol, 1963) With Julius Watkins *'' French Horns for My Lady'' (Philips, 1962) - as arranger With

Andy Williams Howard Andrew Williams (December 3, 1927 – September 25, 2012) was an American singer. He recorded 43 albums in his career, of which 15 have been gold certified and three platinum certified. He was also nominated for six Grammy Awards. He hos ...

*'' Under Paris Skies'' ( Cadence Records, 1960) With Cootie Williams *'' Cootie Williams in Hi-Fi'' (RCA Victor, 1958) With Kai Winding *'' Kai Olé'' (Verve, 1961) With

Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestra ...

*'' The Grand Wazoo'' (1972) *'' Waka/Jawaka'' (1972)

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Byers, Billy 1927 births 1996 deaths American jazz trombonists American male trombonists Jazz musicians from California Drama Desk Award winners Jazz arrangers 20th-century American trombonists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians