Broadway Orchestrator Harold Wheeler Dies at the Age of 82

Orchestrator and music director Harold Wheeler died yesterday, June 24, at home. He was 82 years old.

Wheeler was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and went on to attend Howard University. He got his start in the 1960s as music director for Burt Bacharach. His first job on Broadway was as the musical director of Promises, Promises, composed by Bacharach, in 1968.

He worked steadily on Broadway ever since. Other Broadway credits included The Wiz, Dreamgirls, Carrie, The Life, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Ain’t Too Proud.

In 2003, he received a Drama Desk Award for his orchestrations for Hairspray. He was nominated for seven Tony Awards for Best Orchestrations, and in 2019, he received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement.

In addition to theater, Wheeler worked in television, notably as the musical director for ABC’s Dancing With the Stars for the show’s first 17 seasons.

Wheeler is survived by his wife, actress Hattie Winston; his daughters, Marian and Samantha; and his grandchildren.