TMC
06-25-2026, 09:53 PM
https://deadline.com/2026/06/harold-wheeler-dead-1236967255/
The prolific Tony-winning Broadway orchestrator, composer and conductor died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. “From 2006 to 2013, Wheeler was the musical director and composer for 17 seasons of Dancing with the Stars, parting ways with the competition series after producers reportedly (and controversially) decided to pivot (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/dancing-stars-fires-longtime-band-676819/) to increasing use of recorded music rather than live band music,” says Deadline’s Greg Evans. “Former American Idol bandleader Ray Chew took over the DWTS job after Wheeler left.” Wheeler also music conductor for the 76th Academy Awards and music arranger for the 79th Academy Awards. In 2019, the Tony Awards presented Wheeler with its Lifetime Achievement Award (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWP6VGMFjwY).
The prolific Tony-winning Broadway orchestrator, composer and conductor died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. “From 2006 to 2013, Wheeler was the musical director and composer for 17 seasons of Dancing with the Stars, parting ways with the competition series after producers reportedly (and controversially) decided to pivot (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/dancing-stars-fires-longtime-band-676819/) to increasing use of recorded music rather than live band music,” says Deadline’s Greg Evans. “Former American Idol bandleader Ray Chew took over the DWTS job after Wheeler left.” Wheeler also music conductor for the 76th Academy Awards and music arranger for the 79th Academy Awards. In 2019, the Tony Awards presented Wheeler with its Lifetime Achievement Award (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWP6VGMFjwY).