Harold Wheeler is a modern day renaissance man. As a composer, arranger and orchestra conductor for countless number of special events, TV shows, feature films, jingles and theatre productions, Wheeler has done it all during his 30 plus year career. Remember the jingle, ‘the best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup’ - that’s Wheeler.

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Wheeler, 56, says he can’t remember a time when music wasn’t alive in his blood. He says, "My whole inspiration in life has always been in music. After I finished school, I set out to make a name for myself using the art form."

Living in New York City as a struggling, young musician, Wheeler’s big break came when he volunteered to play piano for a friend auditioning for a part in the 1966 Broadway musical Promises, Promises. Although his friend failed to land a part, Wheeler did when an impressed Burt Bachrach hired him on, first as a piano player and then musical conductor for the hit bound production. History was made, (Wheeler was the youngest person ever hired in such a capacity) and he’s has been riding the wave ever since.

A quick succession of jobs followed. On Broadway he’s orchestrated the music for The Wiz, A Chorus Line, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, Dreamgirls, The Tap Dance Kid and The Life, for which he received his first Tony nomination (he received his second in 1998 for Little Me). In film, Wheeler has composed music for Cotton Comes to Harlem, Love! Valor! Compassion!, and the forthcoming Spanish Judges. In television, he’s responsible for the music in Stompin At The Savoy, The Jackson: An American Dream, Laurel Avenue and All My Children. In 1996, along with John Williams, he composed the opening score for the Olympic Games. Some of his other special projects includes the Democratic Convention, The NFL At 75 All-star Celebration, the 1993 through ‘98 Essence Awards, the 1996 Emmy Awards and the 1997 and ’98 Grammy Awards, just to name a few.

Currently commuting between the Encino, California home (that he shares with his wife, actress Hattie Winston, and teenage daughter Samantha), to Palo Alto, California where he’s is prepping the musical Ugly Ducking for its pre-Broadway run, Wheeler is confident about what lies ahead. "The people who do the hiring in this business are very, very specific about what they want, down to the last detail. Up until now, I’ve had a very good record of keeping them satisfied, and I plan to keep on my thing well into the foreseeable future."

Academy Award winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. just recently wrapped filming on the upcoming 20th Century Fox film "Navy Diver". Based on the real life story of Carl Brashear, the first African American deep-sea diver in US Naval history, the film also stars Robert De Niro, Charlize Theron and Hal Holbrook. George Tillman, Jr., whose last film was the acclaimed hit "Soul Food," is the director and Executive producers are Bill Cosby and Stan Robertson. The film is scheduled for a mid-summer release.

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