Billy Byers


William Mitchell Byers was an American jazz trombonist and arranger.
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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 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 and with the orchestra of Quincy Jones. He became Jones's assistant at Mercury Records in the 1960s, and arranged for Count Basie albums. He also recorded some Duke Ellington standards on his own. He toured Europe and Japan alongside Frank Sinatra 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 in Washington, D.C.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As sideman

With Count Basie
With Bob Brookmeyer
With Al Cohn
With Billy Eckstine
With Coleman Hawkins
With Al Jarreau
With J. J. Johnson
With Quincy Jones
With Lee Konitz
With Jack McDuff
With Gary McFarland
With Hal McKusick
With Carmen McRae
With Joe Newman
With Lalo Schifrin
With Bud Shank
With Charlie Shavers
  • Excitement Unlimited
With Julius Watkins
With Andy Williams
With Cootie Williams
With Kai Winding
With Frank Zappa