Wheeler first worked in the 1960s as the musical director for Burt Bacharach making him the first African-American MD of a major pop act . He also was doing arranging for Tony Orlando and Nina Simone during that time . He was named Music Conductor for the 76th Academy Awards , becoming only the second African-American conductor in the Academy 's history . He also was a music arranger on the 79th Academy Awards . Wheeler was one of two conductors ( the others being fellow composers John Williams and Paul Shaffer ) during the closing ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics
79th Academy Awards
79th Academy Awards
Harold Wheeler (musician)