Christopher Riddle conducting The Nelson Riddle Orchestra
During our life journey, many people cross our paths, and if we are lucky, meaningful relationships develop with those who touch us in the most inspiring way.
One such person who graced my orbit and became one of my most valued and cherished friends, was Christopher Riddle, the accomplished and supremely talented son of the legendary award-winning arranger and composer, Nelson Riddle, leader of the famed Nelson Riddle Orchestra.
Over the past few years, I had the pleasure of being warmly acquainted with Christopher, personally and professionally. I was genuinely delighted when he accepted the special guest invitation to attend my memorable program honoring the career of musical icon, Frank Sinatra. Before the show began, Christopher welcomed all who approached him, eagerly chatting with the attendees who were considerably charmed by his captivating stories, his recollection of warm-hearted family tales, and grand musical adventures. Having experienced such a marvelous reception, we began planning a future project together to spotlight Christopher and the Riddle musical legacy. He was committed to the idea and looked forward to being the featured guest speaker. Sadly though, an unfortunate twist of fate prevented the program from happening.
Perhaps it is now apparent, but with an expression of my deepest sympathy, it is time to reveal that Christopher Riddle recently passed away.
As I fondly remember Christopher, I began to reflect on his entertaining personality, as a wonderful conversationalist, a loyal and caring friend, who was passionate about his music, his career, his family, and his faith.
In an endearing tribute, The Riddle Family composed a lovely dedication (obituary) that illustrates Christopher’s boundless creativity and personal integrity. A portion of the family statement follows:
“Christopher Riddle, the esteemed trombonist and leader of the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, has passed away at the age of 74 after a courageous battle with cancer. He died peacefully on August 24, 2024.
Born on May 8, 1950, in Los Angeles, California, Christopher Robert Riddle was the son of legendary arranger and composer Nelson Riddle and his wife, Doreen. From a young age, Christopher displayed a remarkable aptitude for music, beginning with the piano before mastering the trombone under the tutelage of George Roberts. He further honed his skills at Trinity College in London and the University of Southern California's School of Music.
Christopher's musical journey was deeply intertwined with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, where he performed for nearly fifteen years before taking the helm as leader following his father's passing in 1985. For the next four decades, Christopher guided the Orchestra to new heights, captivating audiences across the United States and Europe with his extraordinary talent and unwavering commitment to preserving his father's legacy. Whether at Carnegie Hall or Dublin’s National Concert Hall, Christopher brought the signature Nelson Riddle sound to life, earning acclaim for his ability to interpret and perform his father’s iconic arrangements with authenticity and passion.
At the conductor's podium, Christopher was more than a leader; he was a storyteller. With a warmth and wit that endeared him to audiences, he shared vivid anecdotes about the legendary artists with whom he and his father collaborated, including Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Linda Ronstadt, Buddy DeFranco, Bob Bain and more. His recollections provided not just entertainment, but a living history of American music."
Christopher Riddle with Karen Morris
The Riddle family message speaks respectfully and lovingly of the many unique attributes I admire about Christopher.
He lived an honorable and artistic life. A consummate professional, he conducted the Nelson Riddle Orchestra with his distinct style, mastering a vast repertoire of orchestral arrangements by apprenticing with his dad early on and then building his independent legacy as the future NRO music director and conductor.
Touring nationally and globally with the orchestra, Christopher brought the Great American Songbook to enthusiastic audiences and showcased many popular melodies that Nelson Riddle had originally arranged for the extraordinary vocalist, Frank Sinatra.
Singer Bryan Anthony performed with The Nelson Riddle Orchestra with Christopher at the helm, and shares his thoughts about his friend and colleague: “I was fortunate and honored to have traveled the world with Christopher Riddle and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra on several tours. It was always such a pleasure, and I felt a sense of pride and joy to be able to bring some of the greatest music ever to a broad worldwide audience. Whether it was onstage at Lincoln Center in New York or across the pond in the UK, we always put the music first and our own egos further down the list.
Christopher was always a proud steward of his father’s accomplishments in music history. Whether it was with Sinatra, Nat Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, or others, he would always share such wonderful recollections of the circumstances surrounding a song or recording date that involved his father—usually, Christopher was also present. After Nelson’s passing, Christopher made it his life’s work to keep his father’s music in front of the people and play it in a dignified and professional manner. I was lucky to play a small part in his undertaking. It was never about either of us, but about the music.
More than once, as we took our bows, I could see a tear trickle down Christopher’s face as he beamed with pride at the audience’s response to our performance of his father’s music. Christopher, you certainly did the music justice and were a wonderful steward of your father’s legacy. Thank you.”
Yes, thank you again, Christopher.
Music Historian and Sinatra Scholar Chuck Granata, a dear friend of the Riddle family, notes his appreciation of Christopher’s assistance while writing his award- winning book, Sessions with Sinatra: Frank Sinatra and the Art of Recording, which has been identified as one of the most important studies of Sinatra the recording artist:
“Christopher was a HUGE help when I was writing my Sessions with Sinatra book back in the early ‘90s. We worked and hung out together at the LA Jazz Society bash back in the mid-2000s. And, we reconnected with you, Karen and your wonderful programs here in NJ. His understanding of and passion for music - and for keeping Nelson Riddle’s groundbreaking music at the forefront - was second to none! I will always carry warm memories of the beautiful human being Christopher was in my heart, and miss him terribly. My thoughts are with my dear friend Rosemary Riddle Acerra and her family.”
Dana Polan, the Martin Scorsese Professor of Cinema Studies, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, met Christopher at one of my Sinatra events, and recognized his verve and spirit: “Christopher Riddle has done so much to establish his own strong voice in musical performance while maintaining the legacy of his father.”
Christopher’s steadfast dedication to his craft transformed him into a fine, seasoned musician who would take the reins and lead The Nelson Riddle Orchestra with zeal and finesse. His magnetic persona and his forthright nature demonstrated why he was so well-liked and applauded.
Carol Kaye, a prolific bass guitarist and outstanding studio musician whose extraordinary career spans over 65 years, having performed on 10,000 recordings, recounts her meeting and working with Christopher and Nelson Riddle: “I met and worked with Chris when his father first hired me, early 1960s. I knew and liked him on those few dates I worked with him in the trombone section. A good musician, nice and yet not overbearing being the son of the fine Nelson Riddle, who we all loved to work for. I last saw Chris with his Dad at a concert in Denver, in the late 1980s. Nelson was a riot, showing me his scar from his open heart surgery and happy to be 'back in action', with arrangements for the show they gave for the Beach Blanket Bingo singer, can't think of his name now, he was there too, we all had dinner together after the concert. Nelson and his son Chris were there, Chris helping with the charts, helping his Dad set up for the concert, and we all had dinner together afterwards. I liked Chris immediately though of course he did a little bit of flirting (to me, that was a compliment I was sooo much older!) and then he picked up my signal to 'knock it off'..lol..we both laughed and were good friends. He had been posting on my Facebook page and then nothing, so I wondered what had happened. He was a wonderful fellow, knock off the ol' block, and a good musician too. It's so sad to hear of losing him..a good man, fine musician on his own merit, and helped his Dad a lot in those years too. This makes me very sad, it's my past too that seems to be disappearing, sadly.”
Christopher was a music connoisseur, but also a devoted fan of classic movies. How enchanting it was to engage with him about various vintage feature films particularly from the 1940s-1960s. The Riddle family mentions his love of cinema as well as numerous other interests in their reverent salute.
“If you were one of the fortunate few, you would know Christopher was passionate about many things in addition to music. He loved movies that transported him to a nostalgia unattainable in today's cinema. He was a ravenous reader of biographies and accounts of the American Revolution. He romanticized the history and held The Founders in highest regard. In accompaniment to his music, love of film, and history passions, he (like his father) was ready with a joke. Comedy remained a welcomed friend."
One particular exceptional quality Christopher possessed that continued to impress, was his remarkable ability to recall and chronicle specific details, day/ time/place, whether childhood- related, concerts he conducted, or travels he experienced. Quite phenomenal and astounding. What a gift it was as he elaborated and relived treasured lifelong moments.
I remember him sweetly reminiscing about his early years when he and his sister Rosemary Riddle (Acerra) sang as part of the children’s chorus during the song recording of “High Hopes”, and again on “Pocketful of Miracles” with the Jimmy Joyce singers. The Riddle youngsters (Skip, Rosemary, Bettina and Christopher) also joyfully attended a recording session with Bing Crosby and Dean Martin for the film Robin and the 7 Hoods, forming musical memories side by side with their dad, Nelson, and his ever-popular arrangements.
Always full of stories, Christopher was interviewed worldwide by broadcast and news professionals, sharing a plethora of amusing and sentimental anecdotes about his life and musical travels.
He is quoted frequently in the authorized biography, Nelson Riddle: Music With a Heartbeat by Geoffrey Littlefield, which was written with Christopher’s heartfelt involvement. So proud of his dad, Christopher flash-backed to share a poignant moment: “My father switched a lot of his attention to writing for films in the 60’s and 70’s. I remember going with him to Paramount Studios and attending a lunch with producer David Merrick when they were filming The Great Gatsby starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow. That was in 1974. He recorded the score at Glen Glen Studios. The music was added as is the norm at the post- production stage, but Dad was always kept in the loop by the producer and the director Jack Clayton from the early stages of the film’s development. My father finally got recognized, winning the Oscar for Best Motion Picture score having been nominated several times previously.”
Christopher Riddle was a kind man, intelligent, expressive, and musically inventive. He will continue to be in our thoughts as we close with this from the Riddle family homage:
“He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Elizabeth Molloy Riddle, who passed away in 1994. Christopher will be laid to rest beside her in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He is survived by his brother, Nelson “Skip” Riddle, and his four sisters, Rosemary Acerra, Bettina Bellini, Cecily Finnegan, and Maureen Riddle.”
It was indeed a pleasure knowing you, Christopher. You and your dad will be forever remembered and celebrated for the creation of much-acclaimed music, and providing listening pleasure and eternal entertainment to be enjoyed by generations to come.
