Bill Byers; Musician and Emmy Award Winner

Bill Byers, 69, arranger and musician who won nine Emmys for his prolific work on television programs. Growing up in Los Angeles, he played piano at age 6, and trombone shortly after with the Hollywood Canteen Kids Band. By 14, he was scoring films, and worked on more than 100 during his long and versatile career. He attended Harvard University briefly before serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After playing in jazz bands and the Benny Goodman Orchestra, Byers began his long association with television as arranger for Sid Caesar’s “Show of Shows.” Over the years, he arranged music for such artists as Duke Ellington, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Sarah Vaughn, Tony Bennett, Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews and Shirley MacLaine. He won his Emmys in collaboration with music director Ian Fraser for such specials as “Baryshnikov on Broadway,” “Christmas in Washington,” “Ben Vereen and his Roots,” “Walt Disney--One Man’s Dreams” and “The Linda Lavin Special.” In addition to dozens of Broadway shows, including the current “Big” and “Victor/Victoria,” Byers arranged music for Academy Award telecasts, stage shows for the Lido de Paris and special events such as the 1984 Olympics opening ceremony. On Wednesday in Malibu of cancer.