Billy Byers


William Mitchell Byers was an American jazz 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 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 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

  • The Jazz Workshop
  • New Sounds in Swing with Joe Newman - also released as Byers' Guide
  • Jazz on the Left Bank with Martial Solal
  • ''Impressions of Duke Ellington''

    As sideman

With Count Basie
  • More Hits of the 50's and 60's - as arranger and conductor
  • Pop Goes the Basie - as arranger and conductor
  • Basie Swingin' Voices Singin with the Alan Copeland Singers
With Bob Brookmeyer
With Al Cohn
  • Mr. Music
With Billy Eckstine
With Coleman Hawkins
With Al Jarreau
  • Breakin' Away - as arranger
With J. J. Johnson
  • Goodies as arranger/conductor
With Quincy Jones
  • The Birth of a Band!
  • Quincy Jones Explores the Music of Henry Mancini
  • Golden Boy
  • Quincy Plays for Pussycats
  • The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones
With Lee Konitz
  • You and Lee
With Jack McDuff
  • Prelude
With Gary McFarland
  • The Jazz Version of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying"
With Hal McKusick
  • Triple Exposure
With Carmen McRae
  • Something to Swing About
With Joe Newman
With Lalo Schifrin
With Bud Shank
  • Windmills of Your Mind
With Charlie Shavers
  • Excitement Unlimited
With Julius Watkins
  • French Horns for My Lady - as arranger
With Andy Williams
With Cootie Williams
  • Cootie Williams in Hi-Fi
With Kai Winding
  • Kai Olé
With Frank Zappa'
  • The Grand Wazoo
  • ''Waka/Jawaka''