Ry Cooder

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Ry Cooder (born March 15, 1947) is a guitarist especially well known for his slide guitar work. He was born in Los Angeles, California.

Cooder has worked as a studio musician and has also scored many film soundtracks of which perhaps the most well known is that for Paris, Texas. In recent years, Cooder has played a role in the increased appreciation of traditional Cuban music, due to his collaboration as producer in the Buena Vista Social Club (1997) recording, which was an worldwide hit. Wim Wenders directed a documenary film of musicians involved, Buena Vista Social Club (1999) which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000.

Cooder's solo work has been an eclectic mix, taking in dustbowl folk, tex-mex, soul, gospel, rock and almost everything else. He has collaborated with many important musicians, including the Rolling Stones, Little Feat, John Lee Hooker, and Gabby Pahinui. He formed the Little Village supergroup with Nick Lowe, John Hiatt and Jim Keltner.