Harold Wheeler was born on June 14, 1943 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA as William Harold Wheeler Jr. He is known for his work on Dancing with the Stars (2005), Hairspray (2007) and Dreamgirls (2006). He is married to Hattie Winston. They have one child.
Has been nominated for Broadway's Best Orchestrations Tony Award five times: in 1997, with collaborator Don Sebesky for "The Life," in 1999 for "Little Me," in 2000 for "Swing!" in 2001 for "The Full Monty," and in 2003 for "Hairspray."
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 88th Annual Academy Awards
2016
TV Special musical director
The 87th Annual Academy Awards
2015
TV Special arranger
Dancing with the Stars
TV Series musical director - 110 episodes, 2006 - 2013 music director - 11 episodes, 2008 composer - 1 episode, 2011 music contractor - 1 episode, 2011 performer - 1 episode, 2011 music arranger - 1 episode, 2010
The 82nd Annual Academy Awards
2010
TV Special music arranger
Christmas in Washington
2008
TV Movie music arranger
Hairspray
2007
orchestrator
The 79th Annual Academy Awards
2007
TV Special music arranger
Dreamgirls
2006
orchestrator: original Broadway production
Mississippi Rising
2005
TV Movie documentary musical director
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes: America's Greatest Quips, Comebacks and Catchphrases
2005
TV Special documentary music arranger
The 76th Annual Academy Awards
2004
TV Special music arranger
CBS at 75
2003
TV Special documentary music arranger
The Kid
2000
location music supervisor
Snowden on Ice
1997
TV Movie music arranger
Love! Valour! Compassion!
1997
music arranger / orchestrator
The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
1995
TV Special musical director / orchestrator
The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
1994
TV Special orchestrator
Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame
1993
TV Special documentary musical director
The 52nd Presidential Inaugural Gala
1993
TV Movie music arranger
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1989
TV Series song arranger - 1 episode
Great Performances
1989
TV Series musical director - 1 episode
ABC Afterschool Specials
1986
TV Series music - 1 episode
Motown Returns to the Apollo
1985
TV Special arranger
The Miss Teen USA Pageant
1983
TV Special musical director
The Wiz
1978
Video musician: keyboards / orchestrator
Don't Play Us Cheap
1973
musical director
The Bride
1973
orchestrator
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Up in the Air
Documentary filming
Dancing with the Stars
2006-2013
TV Series 110 episodes
Spanish Judges
2000
Love! Valour! Compassion!
1997
The 22nd Annual People's Choice Awards
1996
TV Special
The 21st Annual People's Choice Awards
1995
TV Special
Tears and Laughter: The Joan and Melissa Rivers Story
1994
TV Movie
Blood Brothers
1993
music by
There Are No Children Here
1993
TV Movie
Laurel Avenue
1993
TV Series 2 episodes
You Must Remember This
1992
TV Movie
Stompin' at the Savoy
1992
TV Movie
The Jacksons: An American Dream
1992
TV Series 2 episodes
Straight Out of Brooklyn
1991
70th Annual Miss America Pageant
1990
TV Special
ABC Afterschool Specials
1986-1988
TV Series 3 episodes
Benny's Place
1982
TV Movie
Sunnyside
1979
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Patinando por un sueño
2007
TV Series producer - 1 episode
Becker
2004
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Straight Out of Brooklyn
1991
performer: "In Time of Need" / writer: "In Time of Need", "Take Some Time Out", "A Woman Is a Confusin' Thang"
Polly: Comin' Home!
1990
TV Movie writer: "You've Got a Family", "A Distinct Possibility", "Show Us the Way", "The Wedding Waltz/Celebrate the Good Times"
Oxford Blues
1984
lyrics: "Oxford Blues" / music: "Oxford Blues"
Sunnyside
1979
arranger: "Ride That Wave", "New York City Band", "Sunnyside", "I Gotta Have Your Body", "Loving You", "Sometimes" / producer: "Ride That Wave", "New York City Band", "Sunnyside", "I Gotta Have Your Body", "Loving You", "Sometimes"
The Benny Hill Show
1976
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Becker
2004
TV Series
Pianist
George M!
1970
TV Movie
Pianist
Sound Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 87th Annual Academy Awards
2015
TV Special sound consultant
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 88th Annual Academy Awards
2016
TV Special
Himself - Musical director
Dancing with the Stars
2005-2013
TV Series
Himself - Musical Director / Himself
Unsung
2008
TV Series documentary
Himself
The 76th Annual Academy Awards
2004
TV Special
Himself - Conductor
The 55th Annual Tony Awards
2001
TV Special
Himself - Nominee: Best Orchestrations
The 54th Annual Tony Awards
2000
TV Special
Himself - Nominee: Best Orchestrations
The 53rd Annual Tony Awards
1999
TV Special
Himself - Nominee: Best Orchestrations
The 51st Annual Tony Awards
1997
TV Special
Himself - Nominee: Best Orchestrations
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2009
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Music Direction
Dancing with the Stars (2005)
2007
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Music Direction
Dancing with the Stars (2005)
2004
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Music Direction
The 76th Annual Academy Awards (2004)
1992
Independent Spirit Award
Independent Spirit Awards
Best Film Music
Straight Out of Brooklyn (1991)
1990
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
All My Children (1970)
1988
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
All My Children (1970)
1987
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition
ABC Afterschool Specials (1972)
1986
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
All My Children (1970)
1985
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition
All My Children (1970)
Known for movies
Dancing with the Stars (2005-2013) as Music Department
Hairspray (2007) as Music Department
Dreamgirls (2006) as Music Department
Love! Valour! Compassion! (1997) as Music Department
$20 Million
