BUCK COGHLAN Danny, In the summer of 1955 here in Phoenix I received a phone call from Buddy Wheeler a great steel guitar player. Ricky Riddle and Buddy needed an upright bass player to play at an old night club on South Central Ave. in Phoenix, AZ known as Seven Sea's Nightclub. Buddy and Ricky dropped by my apartment to hear me play. Ricky broke out his rhythm guitar and began to sing Second Hand Heart. After singing one or two lines of the song he quietly returned his guitar to its case. After a few moments of silence he said, "I'll see ya tonight at 9:00 pm. Ricky was a friend and a big fan of Marty Robbins and sang many of Marty's songs during our performances. Ricky was a very handsome cowboy style guy and usually there were more than two or three women fighting for his attention at each performance. Ricky was very quiet and slow moving and a very kind person. We became close friends. As usual Ricky moved on without saying a word to me as to where he was headed. Ricky returned to the scene around 1968 and began performing at Reata Pass Steakhouse in North Scottsdale, AZ. At that time the featured act was the Western Gentlemen, Johnny Dakota on vocal, Slim Forbes, fiddle and yours truly on bass. Ricky worked at Reata Pass as a single act during our nights off. Again, Ricky drifted off to some unknown location. I last heard from him by phone in 1976 or 1977. He explained that he was located in Detroit, Michigan and sounded as if he was there with Jack Daniels. I have wondered many, many times about the rest of the story concerning Ricky. Your website told us the story. Buck Coghlan Note: Buck was inducted into the Greater Arizona Country and Western Swing Music Association’s Hall of Fame on August 10th, 2003.

MIKE SEITTS Ricky used to play at my dads bar in N Scottsdale AZ., called “Rustlers Rest”. We were just down the road from Reata Pass. We have some great stories from all the different owners who loved Ricky. Ricky was big to the people that heard him, as you said I think he was just happy playing in the Honky Tonks. He knew that people loved him... it is a tough biz, it seems like he had some shots at it, but the competition was tough in those days. I saw where he was in Nashville and played many venues. Arizona at the time was putting some talented people out there, Waylon Jennings, John Denver, Duanne Eddy. and many more. Ricky may have come back here to try and catch that wave. When Ricky would play “Streets Of Laredo” or “Cattle Call” there was nobody better. Even the song “Ghost Riders In The Sky”, to this day ... I have never heard anybody sing those songs better. Danny, I know that he would be happy and proud that he made a mark on you. Mike Seitts (2011)

BILLY COLE I am now pastor of a small church in Camilla TX. I've been here 22 yrs now, and I think the church is going to keep me! They know that I was a country musician, and that I still like the oldies. As for Ricky and I, I was working at the Yo-Yo Club in Calumet City. I knew that Ricky was a musician from the western suit that he was wearing. I got him up to perform and Lord, the voice that I heard that night was perfect! Ricky and I became friends. Each time he was headed back to Detroit, Ricky Riddle would always stop by for visit. I cherished those times. Later I was at The Sail Inn, on Central, at the bridge crossing the Salt River. This was in the fifties. One night I heard that Ricky would be performing at either The Silver Spur or The Golden Saddle on East Van Buren. (its been a long time) I had to go see him and WOW what a reunion! Like I said, we were friends! Bro Art Gillinger aka Billy Cole (2011)