The Nelson Riddle Orchestra

A Salute To The Music of Frank Sinatra: The Nelson Riddle Orchestra

A Salute To The Music of Frank Sinatra: The Nelson Riddle Orchestra Directed by Christopher Riddle & Featuring Vocals by Bryan Anthony

The Nelson Riddle Orchestra is generally considered the "World's Most Recorded Orchestra" having recorded with Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt and many others. The Orchestra is currently directed by Nelson's son Christopher and will be joined by vocalist Bryan Anthony. The Nelson Riddle Orchestra continues to perform to packed houses across the United States and Europe under the direction of Nelson's son, Christopher. The Orchestra continues that tradition by performing all the great Riddle musical arrangements in a style true to the original recordings.

Nelson Riddle is generally credited for reviving Sinatra's career in the 1950s with the recording of I've Got the World on a String on Capitol Records. Notable future recordings with Sinatra would include the albums Songs for Young Lovers, In the Wee Small Hours, A Swingin' Affair, and Nice n' Easy to name but a few! Sinatra, himself, recalled those years in the liner notes of his Duets album, "In the 1950's, Nelson Riddle and I wanted to record groups of songs that set a mood. We recorded wonderful, soulful, tender albums; as well as hot swinging ones." The Nelson Riddle Orchestra celebrates the songs written by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael, Sammy Kahn and other great composers of the 20th Century. Songs that Sinatra made into worldwide classics with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. Songs like, "Come Fly With Me," "All The Way," "Chicago," "Fly Me to The Moon," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "New York, New York," "Strangers in the Night," "That's Life", and many more.

Christopher Riddle

Christopher Riddle was the third of Nelson Riddle's six children and the only one to become a profession musician, thus providing the third generation of the Riddle musical dynasty. Christopher's grandfather, Nelson, Sr., was an accomplished trombonist and ragtime pianist. Christopher began his performing career at the tender age of six in a recording studio as a member of a junior vocal group that would go on to back such immortals as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee and  Dean Martin, to name a few. At the age of nine, he formed The Riddle Combo, providing musical entertainment for private parties in Malibu, California and its environs. After a year of study at the University of Southern California's School of Music, he transferred to Trinity College at the Royal Academy in London and earned his BA in performing arts (with honors). During these years he continued to provide musical entertainment with his small jazz ensembles, brass quintets and chorales throughout England and many European cities. Upon completion of his studies, Christopher decided to pursue a career within the big band orchestras. He served his apprenticeship primarily as a trombonist within his father's orchestra, but also gained invaluable experience with the orchestras of Buddy Rich, Henry Mancini, and Don Costa. In addition to becoming a renowned trombonist, he became a veteran of the Hollywood recording studios and leader of his own orchestra. With the decline of his father's health, Christopher became involved in all aspects of The Nelson Riddle Orchestra. His father died on October 6, 1985. Now in his forties, this indefatigable performer finds time to compose and occasionally arrange and is as ardent and committed advocate of preserving and promoting quality big band music for all audiences worldwide.

Bryan Anthony

From the very first time we hear them, there are certain singers whom we feel we know. As the intimacy of their delivery and subtle shading of their interpretation draw us in, a whole personality seems to take shape in our imagination. Bryan Anthony is that magnetic kind of singer. In the present day, in a performer just 26 years of age, these qualities are truly remarkable. The Houston-based artist has sung and studied professionally since his teens and has performed the world over from the Acropolis in Athens, Greece to Carnegie Hall, in New York City. In the fall of 1995, Bryan entered the Manhattan School of Music in NYC, where he majored in classical voice. During his freshman year, Bryan performed several times on New York's restaurant row, including Don't Tell Mamas and Danny's Skylight Room, where he thrilled audiences with his own style and voice. In the summer of 1997, Bryan accepted an offer from the Glenn Miller Orchestra to begin touring with them. He took a year off from school and began a very big growth process. The tour took him all over the US, Canada, the Bahamas, the Hawaiian Islands and Japan. There are some things you just can't be taught in a classroom. Often times, it just takes doing to learn. He returned to MSM to finish his undergraduate degree in 2000. Bryan remained in NYC to begin his Master's degree from NYU in jazz and contemporary music. During his time there, he had the opportunity to study with Frank Foster and Janet Lawson. In 2002, Bryan joined the off-Broadway cast of "Our Sinatra." The show ran an unprecedented two and a half years. In addition to touring the world with his trio, Bryan still makes time to play with some of the great big bands. The past year he has had the pleasure of working with: The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The New Gene Krupa Orchestra, The Hunter Fuerste Orchestra, and of course The Nelson Riddle Orchestra. In March of 2005, Bryan was signed to a three record deal with SRI records in Los Angeles. His album "Look At Me Now" will be in stores early 2006. For more information on this record go to:- www.srirecords.com For more information, please contact Bryan Anthony Phone: 917.549.5147 Email: mbryananthony@aol.com

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