Byers was born in Los Angeles on May 1, 1927.^[1] He suffered from arthritis from a young age and was unable to continue his plans of a career as a pianist.^[2]

Byers picked up trombone and played with Karl Kiffe before serving in the United States Army in 1944 and 1945.^[3][2] In the second half of the 1940s he arranged and played trombone for Georgie Auld, Buddy Rich, Benny Goodman, Charlie Ventura, and Teddy Powell.^[2] Following this he composed for WMGM (AM) radio and television in New York City.^[2] In the middle of the 1950s he was in Paris arranging; he also led a session of his own, released as Jazz on the Left Bank, at this time.^[1][2] Later in the 1950s in Europe he played with Harold Arlen (1959–1960) and with the orchestra of Quincy Jones.^[2] He became Jones's assistant at Mercury Records in the 1960s, and arranged for Count Basie albums.^[2] He also recorded some Duke Ellington standards on his own.^[2] He toured Europe and Japan alongside Frank Sinatra in 1974.^[2] Byers had extensive credits arranging and conducting for film,^[2] and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations for City of Angels.^[4]

Byers died in Malibu, California, on May 1, 1996.^[1] Material from his career is held by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.^[1]

As leader/co-leader edit

• The Jazz Workshop (RCA Victor, 1955)
• New Sounds in Swing (Jazztone, 1956) with Joe Newman - also released as Byers' Guide
• Jazz on the Left Bank (Epic, 1956) with Martial Solal
• Impressions of Duke Ellington (Mercury, 1961)

As sideman edit

With Count Basie

• More Hits of the 50's and 60's (Verve, 1963) - as arranger and conductor
• Pop Goes the Basie (Reprise, 1965) - as arranger and conductor
• Basie Swingin' Voices Singin' (ABC-Paramount, 1966) with the Alan Copeland Singers

With Bob Brookmeyer

• Gloomy Sunday and Other Bright Moments (Verve, 1961)

With Al Cohn

• Mr. Music (RCA Victor, 1955)

With Billy Eckstine

• The Golden Hits of Billy Eckstine (Mercury, 1963) - as arranger

With Coleman Hawkins

• The Hawk in Hi Fi (RCA Victor, 1956) - as arranger and conductor

With Al Jarreau

• Breakin' Away (Warner Bros., 1981) - as arranger

With J. J. Johnson

• Goodies (RCA Victor, 1965) as arranger/conductor

With Quincy Jones

• The Birth of a Band! (Mercury, 1959)
• Quincy Jones Explores the Music of Henry Mancini (Mercury, 1964)
• Golden Boy (Mercury, 1964)
• Quincy Plays for Pussycats (Mercury, 1959-65 [1965])
• The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones (Mercury, 1959)

With Lee Konitz

• You and Lee (Verve, 1959)

With Jack McDuff

• Prelude (Prestige, 1963)

With Gary McFarland

• The Jazz Version of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying" (Verve, 1962)

With Hal McKusick

• Triple Exposure (Prestige, 1957)

With Carmen McRae

• Something to Swing About (Kapp, 1959)

With Joe Newman

• I Feel Like a Newman (Storyville, 1956)

With Lalo Schifrin

• Music from Mission: Impossible (Dot, 1967)

With Bud Shank

• Windmills of Your Mind (Pacific Jazz, 1969)

With Charlie Shavers

• Excitement Unlimited (Capitol, 1963)

With Julius Watkins

• French Horns for My Lady (Philips, 1962) - as arranger

With Andy Williams

• Under Paris Skies (Cadence Records, 1960)

With Cootie Williams

• Cootie Williams in Hi-Fi (RCA Victor, 1958)

With Kai Winding

• Kai Olé (Verve, 1961)

With Frank Zappa

• The Grand Wazoo (1972)
• Waka/Jawaka (1972)

• "Billy Byers Wins Juvenile Role in Community Play". Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. March 6, 1941. p. 11
• "Conducts Class". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. July 19, 1941. p. 11
• Markham, Jeanie (November 6, 1942). "Campus Gad-About; Musically Speaking". The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. p. 13
• McIver, Don L. (June 24, 1956). "Billy Byers Hits Mark as Composer, Arranger". Fort Lauderdale News. p. 58.
• Green, Benny (May 14, 1996). "Jazz's Constant Horn". The Guardian. p. 16.

• Billy Byers discography at Discogs
• Billy Byers at IMDb