Home / Arts and Entertainment / Deceased Arranger Sets Record for Longest Grammy Nomination Span
Deceased Arranger Sets Record for Longest Grammy Nomination Span
18 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Nelson Riddle earned a posthumous Grammy nomination 39 years after his passing.
- The nomination was made possible by a technicality in the Recording Academy's five-year rule.
- Riddle now holds the record for the longest span between Grammy nominations.
- John Williams and Barbra Streisand also extended their nomination spans this year.
Music arranger Nelson Riddle has posthumously secured a Grammy nomination, a remarkable feat occurring 39 years after his passing in 1985. This nomination marks a new record for the longest span of Grammy nominations, stretching from his first nods in 1959 to the present. The Recording Academy's eligibility criteria, specifically its interpretation of the five-year rule for 'new recordings,' paved the way for this recognition.
The nomination is for an arrangement of 'How Did She Look?' from Seth MacFarlane's album, which features newly recorded versions of Sinatra's planned repertoire. While typically recordings by artists deceased for over five years are ineligible, Riddle's arrangement itself was newly recorded for this album. This technicality has drawn some attention, with comparisons to recent Grammy decisions regarding other posthumous contributions.
Riddle's groundbreaking career, which included work with Frank Sinatra and Linda Ronstadt, is now further immortalized. He joins John Williams and Barbra Streisand, who also extended their own nomination records this year, highlighting the enduring impact of these artists on the music industry.
