Byron Autrey

ABOUT

Byron Autrey began teaching trumpet and cornet at Michigan State University in 1953. He spent 37 teaching at MSU until his retirement in 1990. Autrey guided a number of trumpeters on the path to significant careers in orchestras, bands, and as in-demand studio players. While best known and most recruited as a trumpet player, Autrey recorded most often as a cornet player. With the Detroit Concert Band led by Leonard Smith, for example, he appeared playing cornet on over 30 albums. In his first year teaching at MSU, he marched with the Spartan Marching Band at the 1953 Rose Bowl, thus qualifying him as an SMB alumnus. An avid player, he continued performing regularly well into his 80s. Autrey passed away in 2018.