Harold Wheeler: key obituary facts
Is Harold Wheeler dead? Yes. Harold Wheeler died on June 24, 2026, at age 82.
Cause of death: Harold Wheeler's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Harold Wheeler known for?
He was an American orchestrator, composer, conductor, arranger, record producer, and music director.
More about Harold Wheeler
Born: 14 July 1943.
Place of birth: St. Louis.
Gender: male.
Occupation: composer, conductor, record producer.
Nationality: United States.
Education: Howard University.
Also known as: William Harold Wheeler Jr.
Occupations: Orchestrator, Conductor, Pianist, Composer, Record producer, Music director.
Formerly of: The Harold Wheeler Consort.
Harold Wheeler, an American orchestrator and composer, died on June 24, 2026, at the age of 82.
Born William Harold Wheeler Jr. in St.
Louis on July 14, 1943, he built a career as an orchestrator, conductor, arranger, record producer and music director. Wheeler won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations for Hairspray in 2003 and received multiple Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations for his orchestral work. In the 1960s, he became the musical director for Burt Bacharach, reportedly the first African-American music director of a major pop act. He later served as music conductor for the 76th Academy Awards and worked as musical director on Dancing with the Stars during the show’s first 17 seasons.