Story by Carson Blackwelder, Page Six | The “Dancing With the Stars” family is mourning one of their own. Harold Wheeler, the ABC reality competition series’ longtime musical director, has died. He was 82. Wheeler, who was also a famed Broadway orchestrator and received a Special Tony Award in 2019 for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles following a lengthy illness, Deadline reports.
The musician served as both the musical director and composer for the first 17 seasons of “DWTS” between 2005 and 2013, with his exit confirmed in 2014 before the show’s 18th season.
Harold Wheeler, the original musical director and composer for “Dancing With the Stars” for the show’s first 17 seasons between 2005 and 2013, has died. (He’s seen here on the show in Season 5.) Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Tom Bergeron, who hosted “DWTS” for the series’ first 28 seasons, shared a heartfelt tribute for Wheeler on Instagram Thursday.
“In 2005, when you first heard the music of @dancingwiththestars, it was coming from Harold Wheeler and his orchestra,” he began. “Nothing gave me greater pleasure than making him & his orchestra break up during dress rehearsals. Well, that & basking in the brilliance of their talent. #RIP my friend .”
Wheeler’s “DWTS” successor, Ray Chew, reacted to Bergeron’s post in the comments, calling it “one of the greatest honors” of his career to have Wheeler pass the baton to him.
“Harold could not have been more gracious, offering me his blessing and encouragement as I stepped into the role he had shaped with such distinction,” Chew wrote. “That meant more to me than words can express.”
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Read more about Mr. Wheeler here:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/original-dancing-with-the-stars-musical-director-dead-at-82-as-cast-pay-tribute-to-legend-and-friend/
Photo: Harold Wheeler | From The Temptations’ Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/TheTemptations
