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Subject: [CAYolo] Harold (Bud) Miller BILLINGS (1937-2002) (obit.)
Date: 7 May 2002 14:06:37 -0600

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.

Surnames: BILLINGS, MILLER, PLEASANT, HEIDRICK
Classification: Obituary

Message Board URL:

http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JY.2ADE/1079

Message Board Post:

Harold (Bud) Miller Billings

Harold (Bud) Billings died in his home at Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, April 27, 2002 at the age of 64.

Born Sept. 26, 1937, in Aurora, Ill., he was the first child of Harold and Bernadine (Miller) Billings.

He grew up in Woodland and attended Dingle and Beamer Elementary schools. He began playing trumpet at Beamer under the tutelage of Gordon Friday. he acquired an early interest in jazz, according to family members. In high school he joined the Musicians' Union in Sacramento at the age of 14 and through high school, worked with most of the dance bands in the Sacramento area.

He graduated from Woodland High School in 1955 and graduated from Los Angeles City College.

Mr. Billings moved to Los Angeles immediately after graduation and enrolled in Los Angeles City College. He left college when he was offered the opportunity to go "on the road" with Hal McIntyre. He toured with many Big Bands, including Skinnae Ennis, Jerry Gray, Pearl Bailey and husband Louie Bellson, Harry James and Stan Kenton. He also performed or recorded with Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Nelson Riddle, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, the Beach Boys, Sammy Davis Jr., and others.

Mr. Billings was an accomplished trumpet player. He toured with many big bands, including Hal McIntre, Sinnae Ennis, Jerry Gray, Pearl Bailey and husband Louie Bellson, Harry James, and Stan Kenton.

He also was with the orchestras that played the Carol Burnett TV Show and the Steve Allen Show.

Mr. Billings move to Nashville, Tenn., in 1970 to work on the Johnny Cash TV Show. He later got involved with arranging work and quit playing the trumpet. He won Clio Awards for commercials for Merchants Bank of Indianapolis and for Belk Department Stores.

In 1983 he accepted a position on the arranging faculty at Berklee College of Music, where he eventually became assistant chair for the arranging department. He also began playing again and in 1991 moved to Cape Canaveral, Fla., and did a considerable amount of arranging work for the shows at Disney World.

Mr. Billings is survived by former wife Barbara K. Billings of Cape Canaveral; daughter Laura Pleasant and husband of North Carolina; and grandson Aaron Pleasant of North Carolina.

He is also survived by sister Sandra Heidrick and husband Fred; niece Melissa Harlan and husband Blake, and their children, Eleanor, Amelia and Ethan; as well as nephew Greg Heidrick and wife Stacey, all of Woodland.

He was preceded in death by parents Harold and Bernadine Billings and nephew Steven Heidrick, all of Woodland.

As per his request there was no formal ceremony.

A fee has been paid to reprint this obituary

(Obituary from the "The Daily Democrat," Tuesday, May 07, 2002, (Woodland, Yolo County, California). Submitted with the permission of the "The Daily Democrat," 711 Main St., Woodland, CA 95695. Please note: I am not related to the family listed above, and I do not have any further information on this family.)

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