Background
Ridley was born and reared in Indianapolis, Indiana.
music educator university professor jazz musician
Ridley was born and reared in Indianapolis, Indiana.
He studied at the Indiana University School of Music and later at the Lenox School of Jazz.
He began performing professionally while still in high school in the 1950s. Ridley has been involved in jazz education, heading the jazz program at Rutgers University. Doctor David Baker, another Indianapolis native and notable jazz musician, was one of his prime mentors.
Ridley was bassist for David Baker"s Big band during his studies at Indiana University.
Ridley served as chairman of the Jazz Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts (National Education Association) and was the organization"s National Coordinator of the "Jazz Artists in Schools" Program for five years (1978–1982). Ridley is currently the Executive Director of the African American Jazz Caucus, Incorporated., an affiliate of IAJE. He is also the IAJE Northeast Regional Coordinator.
He continues to actively teach as Professor of Jazz Bass at the Manhattan School of Music. Ridley is currently serving as Jazz Artist in Residence at the Harlem based New York Public Library/Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
He established an annual series there dedicated to presenting the compositions of jazz masters that are performed by Ridley and his Jazz Legacy Ensemble.