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Nelson Riddle (1921–1985)

Versatile Ameican arranger/conducter who started as a trombonist with several big bands, including Tommy Dorsey. In a long, distinguished career, he not only scored numerous films and television shows, but made many now-legendary recordings in collaboration with such people as Rosemary Clooney, Nat 'King' Cole... See full bio »

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Known For


Filmography

Hide HideMusic Department (68 titles)
1982-1984 Newhart (TV series) (composer: additional music - 18 episodes)
Happy Trails to You (1984) (composer: additional music)
Vermont Today (1984) (composer: additional music)
Leave It to the Beavers (1984) (composer: additional music)
Go, Grandma, Go (1984) (composer: additional music)
Kirk Ties One On (1984) (composer: additional music)
 
1984 Linda Ronstadt in Concert: What's New (video) (music arranger)
 
1982 Strike Force (TV series) (composer: additional music - 1 episode)
Chinatown (1982) (composer: additional music)
 
1980 Rough Cut (conductor, music adaptor)
 
1978 Goin' Coconuts (conductor)
 
1978 Project U.F.O. (TV series) (composer: theme music - 1 episode)
Sighting 4016: The Pipeline Incident (1978) (composer: theme music)
 
1978 The 50th Annual Academy Awards (TV special) (musical director)
 
Emergency! (TV series) (composer: theme music - 44 episodes, 1972-1977) (composer: title theme - 30 episodes, 1973-1977)
Limelight (1977) (composer: title theme)
Hypochondri-Cap (1977) (composer: title theme)
Upward and Onward (1977) (composer: title theme)
All Night Long (1977) (composer: title theme)
Isolation (1977) (composer: title theme)
 
1977 The 4th Annual American Music Awards (TV special) (musical director)
 
1977 That's Action (documentary) (music supervisor)
 
1976 City of Angels (TV series) (composer: theme music - 13 episodes)
Match Point (1976) (composer: theme music)
The Bloodshot Eye (1976) (composer: theme music)
Say Goodbye to Yesterday (1976) (composer: theme music)
The Castle of Dreams (1976) (composer: theme music)
A Sudden Silence (1976) (composer: theme music)
 
1976 That's Entertainment, Part II (documentary) (composer: new sequences - uncredited, conductor: new sequences, music arranger: new sequences)
 
1976 John Denver and Friend (TV special) (musical director)
 
1975 Caribe (TV series) (composer: theme music - 13 episodes)
Assault on the Calavera (1975) (composer: theme music)
The Assassin (1975) (composer: theme music)
The Patriots (1975) (composer: theme music)
Counterfeit Killer (1975) (composer: theme music)
One Second to Doom (1975) (composer: theme music)
 
1974 The Great Gatsby (composer: additional music, conductor, music arranger, music supervisor)
 
1973 The Helen Reddy Show (TV series) (orchestra leader)
 
1973 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to John Ford (TV special documentary) (musical director)
 
The Julie Andrews Hour (TV series) (musical director - 2 episodes, 1972-1973) (conductor - 1 episode, 1973)
Episode #1.21 (1973) (conductor, musical director)
Episode #1.2 (1972) (musical director)
 
1971-1972 The D.A. (TV series) (composer: theme music - 13 episodes)
The People versus Boley (1972) (composer: theme music)
The People versus Walsh (1971) (composer: theme music)
The People versus Whitehead (1971) (composer: theme music)
The People versus Nelson (1971) (composer: theme music)
The People versus Howard (1971) (composer: theme music)
 
1971 The CBS Newcomers (TV series) (musical director)
 
1970 On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (conductor, music arranger, music supervisor)
 
1969 Paint Your Wagon (conductor)
 
1969 The Maltese Bippy (conductor)
 
1967-1968 Tarzan (TV series) (composer: theme music - 21 episodes, 1967-1968) (conductor - 21 episodes, 1967-1968)
Alex the Great (1968) (composer: theme music, conductor)
Trina (1968) (composer: theme music, conductor)
Rendezvous for Revenge (1968) (composer: theme music, conductor)
Jungle Ransom (1968) (composer: theme music, conductor)
End of a Challenge (1968) (composer: theme music, conductor)
 
1968 ...And Debbie Makes Six (TV movie) (musical director)
 
1967 The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (TV series) (musical director - 1 episode)
Episode #2.13 (1967) (musical director)
 
1967 Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music + Ella + Jobim (TV movie) (music arranger, musical director)
 
1967 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (conductor, music supervisor)
 
1966 El Dorado (conductor)
 
1966 Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music Part II (TV movie) (musical director)
 
1966 The Man Who Never Was (TV series) (music - 1 episode)
Search for a Bent Twig (1966) (music)
 
1965 Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music (TV movie) (musical director)
 
1965 Red Line 7000 (conductor)
 
1965 Marriage on the Rocks (conductor)
 
1964-1965 The Rogues (TV series) (composer: theme music - 30 episodes)
A Daring Step Backward (1965) (composer: theme music)
Mr. White's Christmas (1965) (composer: theme music)
Grave Doubts (1965) (composer: theme music - uncredited)
Wherefore Art Thou, Harold? (1965) (composer: theme music - uncredited)
Our Men in Marawat (1965) (composer: theme music - uncredited)
 
1964 Profiles in Courage (TV series) (composer: theme music)
 
1964 Robin and the 7 Hoods (conductor)
 
Route 66 (TV series) (composer: theme music - 116 episodes, 1960-1964) (conductor - 17 episodes, 1960-1963)
Where There's a Will, There's a Way: Part 2 (1964) (composer: theme music)
Where There's a Will, There's a Way: Part 1 (1964) (composer: theme music)
Follow the White Dove with the Broken Wing (1964) (composer: theme music)
This Is Going to Hurt Me More Than It Hurts You (1964) (composer: theme music)
Who in His Right Mind Needs a Nice Girl (1964) (composer: theme music)
 
The Untouchables (TV series) (composer: theme music - 103 episodes, 1959-1963) (composer: themes - 15 episodes, 1961-1962)
A Taste for Pineapple (1963) (composer: theme music)
Line of Fire (1963) (composer: theme music)
The Torpedo (1963) (composer: theme music)
The Jazz Man (1963) (composer: theme music)
The Charlie Argos Story (1963) (composer: theme music)
 
Naked City (TV series) (composer: theme music - 11 episodes, 1962-1963) (conductor - 2 episodes, 1962)
Color Schemes Like Never Before (1963) (composer: theme music)
Carrier (1963) (composer: theme music)
Stop the Parade! A Baby Is Crying! (1963) (composer: theme music)
Howard Running Bear Is a Turtle (1963) (composer: theme music)
Bringing Far Places Together (1963) (composer: theme music)
 
1962-1963 Sam Benedict (TV series) (composer: theme music - 28 episodes)
Season for Vengeance (1963) (composer: theme music)
Of Rusted Cannons and Fallen Sparrows (1963) (composer: theme music)
Read No Evil (1963) (composer: theme music)
Accomplice (1963) (composer: theme music)
Seventeen Gypsies and a Sinner Named Charlie (1963) (composer: theme music)
 
1962 Lolita (conductor)
 
1960 Ocean's Eleven (conductor)
 
1960 Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley (TV special) (musical director)
 
1960 Can-Can (conductor, music arranger)
 
1959 Li'l Abner (conductor)
 
1959 Bing Crosby and Dean Martin Present High Hopes (TV movie) (musical director)
 
1959 Never Steal Anything Small (music arranger - uncredited)
 
1958 St. Louis Blues (conductor, music arranger)
 
1958 Merry Andrew (conductor, music adaptor)
 
1958 The Girl Most Likely (conductor, music arranger)
 
1957 Pal Joey (music adaptation, music arranger)
 
1957 The Frank Sinatra Show (TV series) (musical director)
 
1957 The Joker Is Wild (music arranger: songs)
 
1957 The Pajama Game (orchestrator)
 
1956 Accused of Murder (composer: stock music - uncredited)
 
1956 The Nat King Cole Show (TV series) (conductor)
 
1956 High Society (orchestrator)
 
1956 The Rosemary Clooney Show (TV series) (orchestra director - 1 episode)
Episode #1.7 (1956) (orchestra director)
 
1956 Autumn Leaves (orchestrator - uncredited)
 
1956 A Kiss Before Dying (orchestrator)
 
1956 Carousel (orchestrator)
 
1955 Guys and Dolls (orchestrator)
 
1955 Producers' Showcase (TV series) (musical director - 1 episode, 1955) (orchestrator - 1 episode, 1955)
Our Town (1955) (musical director, orchestrator)
 
1955 This Is Your Music (TV series) (conductor - 1 episode, 1955) (music arranger - 1 episode, 1955)
A Salute to Johnny Mercer (1955) (conductor, music arranger)
 
1954 Satins and Spurs (TV movie) (arrangements)
 
1953 The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (composer: additional music - uncredited)
 
1953 All Ashore (music arranger)
 
Show ShowComposer (90 titles)
1983 Newhart (TV series)
Lady & the Tramps (1983)
 
1982-1983 Matt Houston (TV series)
Stop the Presses (1982)
 
1982 Cagney & Lacey (TV series)
Better Than Equal (1982)
Suffer the Children (1982)
Street Scene (1982)
 
1982 Strike Force (TV series)
The John Killer (1982)
 
1982 Help Wanted: Male (TV movie)
 
1981 Margin for Murder (TV movie)
 
1980 Rough Cut
 
1980 Rascal Dazzle
 
1974-1978 Barnaby Jones (TV series)
A Frame for Murder (1978)
Prisoner of Deceit (1977)
Double Vengeance (1975)
 
1978 Goin' Coconuts
 
1978 A Tribute to Neil Simon (TV movie)
 
1978 CHiPs (TV series)
Vintage '54 (1978)
 
1978 The 35th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV documentary)
 
1977 An All-Star Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor (TV documentary)
 
1977 Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue (TV mini-series)
 
1977 The November Plan (TV movie)
 
1977 A Circle of Children (TV movie)
 
1977 Seventh Avenue (TV mini-series)
 
1976 An All-Star Tribute to John Wayne (TV documentary)
 
1976 How to Break Up a Happy Divorce (TV movie)
 
1976 America at the Movies (documentary)
 
1976 City of Angels (TV series)
 
1975 Three for Two (TV movie)
 
1974-1975 Medical Center (TV series)
Two Against Death (1975)
Kiss and Kill (1974)
 
1975 Mobile Two (TV movie)
 
1975 Promise Him Anything (TV movie)
 
1975 The Runaway Barge (TV movie)
 
1975 Lucy Gets Lucky (TV movie)
 
1975 Caribe (TV series)
 
1974-1975 Movin' On (TV series)
Fraud (1975)
Landslide (1975)
Good for Laughs (1974)
Hoots (1974)
 
1973 The Blue Knight (TV movie)
 
1972 Tribute to Bogart (TV documentary)
 
1970 On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (uncredited)
 
1968 Danger Has Two Faces (TV movie)
 
1966-1967 Batman (TV series)
The Duo Defy (1967)
Ice Spy (1967)
Flop Goes the Joker (1967)
Pop Goes the Joker (1967)
 
1967 Tarzan (TV series)
Tiger, Tiger! (1967)
 
1966 El Dorado (music scored by)
 
1966 Hawk (TV series)
 
1966 The Man Who Never Was (TV series)
 
1966 Batman
 
1966 I Dream of Jeannie (TV series)
 
1965-1966 The Loner (TV series)
A Question of Guilt (1966)
To the West of Eden (1966)
Hunt the Man Down (1965)
The Oath (1965)
 
1965 Red Line 7000
 
1965 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV series)
Escape from Venice (1965)
 
1965 A Rage to Live
 
1965 The Wackiest Ship in the Army (TV series)
The Day the Crew Paced the Deck (1965) (music composed and conducted by)
 
1965/II Harlow
 
1964-1965 The Rogues (TV series)
Grave Doubts (1965)
Our Men in Marawat (1965)
 
1965 Inger Stevens in Sweden (TV documentary)
 
1964 Robin and the 7 Hoods (music scored by)
 
1964 Battleline (TV series documentary)
Stalingrad (1964)
 
1963 4 for Texas
 
1962 Lolita
 
1960 The Untouchables (TV series)
Jack 'Legs' Diamond (1960)
 
1960 Ocean's Eleven
 
1960 The Gun of Zangara (TV movie)
 
1960 Alcatraz Express (TV movie)
 
1959 Li'l Abner
 
1959 The Gene Kelly Show (TV movie)
 
1959 The Bing Crosby Special (TV movie)
 
1958 St. Louis Blues (uncredited)
 
1958 Merry Andrew (uncredited)
 
1958 The Girl Most Likely (uncredited)
 
1957 The Jerry Lewis Show (TV movie)
 
1956 Lisbon
 
1956 Johnny Concho
 
1956 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
 
Show ShowActor (3 titles)
1969 The Leslie Uggams Show (TV series)
Band leader
 
1956-1957 The Nat King Cole Show (TV series)
Orchestra Leader / Orchestra
Episode #3.13 (1957) … Orchestra Leader
Episode #3.12 (1957) … Orchestra Leader
Episode #3.11 (1957) … Orchestra Leader
Episode #3.10 (1957) … Orchestra Leader
Episode #3.9 (1957) … Orchestra Leader
 
1956 Riddles in Rhythm (short)
Nelson Riddle - Orchestra Leader
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (21 titles)
2012 Caiga quien caiga - CQC (TV series)
Episode #16.17 (2012) (writer: "Ruta 66")
 
2002 Easy Listening ("Twilight on the Mall", "Tina's Waltz", "Freeway Fantasy")
 
2001 Friends (TV series)
The One Where They All Turn Thirty (2001) (writer: "Route 66" - uncredited)
 
2000 Wonder Boys (writer: Theme from tt0053534 / performer: Theme from tt0053534)
 
1999 Mickey Blue Eyes (performer: "C'est Magnifique")
 
1997 Vegas Vacation (performer: "Volare Nel Blu, Dipinto Di Blu")
 
1996 Dream for an Insomniac (performer: "Spice")
 
1987 Married with Children (TV series)
 
1985 Roadhouse 66 (writer: "THEME FROM ROUTE 66")
 
1983 Terms of Endearment (arranger: "Anything Goes" 1934)
 
1970 Hell's Bloody Devils (music: "The Fakers")
 
1966 El Dorado (music: "El Dorado")
 
1966 Batman (TV series)
The Dead Ringers (1966) (arranger: "The Stars and Stripes Forever" - uncredited)
 
1965 Red Line 7000 ("Let Me Find Someone New")
 
1964 Paris When It Sizzles (music: "The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower")
 
1960 Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
Episode dated 7 December 1960 (1960) (music: "The Untouchables" - uncredited)
 
1959 A Hole in the Head (writer: "Shirl's Theme Cha-Cha" 1959 - uncredited)
 
1958 Naked City (TV series)
 
1958 The Girl Most Likely (music: "The Girl Most Likely")
 
1954 The Adventures of Hajji Baba (arranger: "Hajji Baba Persian Lament")
 
1953 The Blue Gardenia (arranger: "Blue Gardenia")
 
Show ShowSelf (21 titles)
2004 American Masters (TV series documentary)
Conductor / Himself - Orchestrator
Judy Garland: By Myself (2004) … Himself - Orchestrator/Conductor (voice)
 
1985 Great Performances (TV series)
Himself
Judy Garland: The Concert Years (1985) … Himself
 
1984 All-Star Party for Lucille Ball (TV movie)
Himself
 
1984 Linda Ronstadt in Concert: What's New (video)
Himself/Conductor
 
1983 Live... And in Person (TV series)
Himself
Episode #1.2 (1983) … Himself
 
1981 Saturday Night at the Mill (TV series)
Himself
Episode #6.12 (1981) … Himself
 
1980 The Carpenters: Music, Music, Music (TV special)
Himself
 
1978 General Electric's All-Star Anniversary (TV documentary)
 
1976 John Denver and Friend (TV special)
Himself
 
1968 The Summer Brothers Smothers Show (TV series)
Himself
 
1968 ...And Debbie Makes Six (TV movie)
Himself
 
1965 Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music (TV movie)
Himself
 
1961 Juke Box Jury (TV series)
Himself - Panellist
Episode dated 17 June 1961 (1961) … Himself - Panellist
 
1960 A Date with Debbie (TV movie)
Himself
 
1959 Sunday Showcase (TV series)
Himself - Recipient
The 1st Annual Grammy Awards (1959) … Himself - Recipient
 
1957-1958 The Frank Sinatra Show (TV series)
Himself
A Gun at His Back (1958) … Himself
Face of Fear (1958) … Himself
Episode #1.28 (1958) … Himself
Episode dated 4 April 1958 (1958) … Himself
A Time to Cry (1958) … Himself
 
1957 The Nat King Cole Show (TV series)
Himself - Orchestra Leader
Episode #2.2 (1957) … Himself - Orchestra Leader
 
1957 The Rosemary Clooney Show (TV series)
Himself - Orchestra Leader
Episode #1.29 (1957) … Himself - Orchestra Leader (as Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)
 
1956 Shower of Stars (TV series)
Himself
Bombshells (1956) … Himself
 
1955 This Is Your Music (TV series)
Himself - Orchestra Conductor
A Salute to Johnny Mercer (1955) … Himself - Orchestra Conductor
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

At one time was a trombonist for Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra. See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Article  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra

Height:

6' 2" (1.88 m)
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Did You Know?

Trivia:

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6724 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. See more »

Nickname:

Nels See more »

Star Sign:

Gemini