Walters was born on September 29, 1918 in
Gurdon, Arkansas. Walters began taking music lessons and playing
cornet at the age of eight. During his five years as a
tuba player and arranger with the
US Navy Band, he completed his undergraduate studies at the
University of Cincinnati's
College Conservatory of Music (CCM) in
Cincinnati,
Ohio, under
Nadia Boulanger. Walters also studied at the
American University in
Washington, D.C. and at the Washington College of Music, where he received his doctorate in 1943. Walters later worked as a conductor and composer in Washington and
New York City for theaters, film and various orchestras; including the well-known orchestra of
Sigmund Romberg. After 1947, he was associated with the music publisher
Rubank, Inc. as a composer, arranger, and editor. Walters' work includes around 1,500 compositions and arrangements as well as books on instrumental instruction. Walters conducted wind bands and orchestras all over the world. "[T]he smallest," he recalled, "was a 9-piece circus band and the largest was the 12,800-piece massed band at the University of Michigan." He died on October 22, 1984 in
Hollywood, Florida. ==Works for concert band==