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 son of arranger and composer, Nelson Riddle.
Over the past few years, I had the pleasure of being warmly acquainted with Christopher, personally and professionally. I was delighted when he accepted the invitation to attend my programme honouring Frank Sinatra. Before the show began, attendees were charmed by Christopher’s captivating stories, his recollection of warm-hearted family tales, and grand musical adventures. We began planning a project 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 intervened.
The Riddle family wrote: “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 15 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.”
A consummate professional, Christopher 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 Sinatra.
Carol Kaye, a prolific bass guitarist and outstanding studio musician whose extraordinary career spans over 65 years, having performed on 10,000 recordings, recounts 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.”
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.
The Riddle family homage added: “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.
