Ryland "Ry" Peter Cooder is an American prominent guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in blues-rock, roots music from his native North America, and for his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.
Cooder's solo work has been an eclectic mix, taking in dust bowl folk, blues, Tex-Mex, soul, gospel, rock, and much else. He has collaborated with many important musicians, including The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Earl Hines, Little Feat, Captain Beefheart, The Chieftains, John Lee Hooker, Pops, Mavis Staples, Gabby Pahinui, Flaco Jiménez, Ibrahim Ferrer (Buena Vista Social Club), Freddy Fender and Ali Farka Touré. He formed the Little Village supergroup with Nick Lowe, John Hiatt, and Jim Keltner.
Cooder was ranked 8th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." A 2010 ranking by Gibson placed him at #32.
Known For
Paris, Texas
(1984)
Original Music Composer
Trespass
(1992)
Original Music Composer
My Blueberry Nights
(2007)
Original Music Composer
Crossroads
(1986)
Original Music Composer and Musician
Dead Man Walking
(1995)
Music Producer
Primary Colors
(1998)
Original Music Composer
The Long Riders
(1980)
Original Music Composer
Last Man Standing
(1996)
Original Music Composer
Southern Comfort
(1981)
Original Music Composer
Extreme Prejudice
(1987)
Music Producer
Streets of Fire
(1984)
Original Music Composer
Johnny Handsome
(1989)
Original Music Composer
The Border
(1982)
Original Music Composer and Music
Brewster's Millions
(1985)
Original Music Composer
Geronimo: An American Legend
(1993)
Original Music Composer
Blue City
(1986)
Original Music Composer
Full Filmography
Sound
Ry Cooder: How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
(1970)
Music
The Long Riders
(1980)
Original Music Composer
Southern Comfort
(1981)
Original Music Composer
The Border
(1982)
Original Music Composer and Music
Paris, Texas
(1984)
Original Music Composer
Streets of Fire
(1984)
Original Music Composer
Brewster's Millions
(1985)
Original Music Composer
Alamo Bay
(1985)
Original Music Composer
Annie Oakley
(1985)
Music
Blue City
(1986)
Original Music Composer
Crossroads
(1986)
Original Music Composer and Musician
Extreme Prejudice
(1987)
Music Producer
Rabbit Ears - Pecos Bill
(1988)
Music
Johnny Handsome
(1989)
Original Music Composer
Trespass
(1992)
Original Music Composer
Geronimo: An American Legend
(1993)
Original Music Composer
Dead Man Walking
(1995)
Music Producer
Last Man Standing
(1996)
Original Music Composer
The End of Violence
(1997)
Original Music Composer
Primary Colors
(1998)
Original Music Composer
Buena Vista Social Club
(1999)
Music Producer and Musician
Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story
(2003)
Original Music Composer
My Blueberry Nights
(2007)
Original Music Composer
Acting
Ry Cooder: How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
(1970)
The Long Riders
(1980)
Wedding Band Guitar Player (uncredited)
Randy Newman: At the Odeon
(1982)
Himself
Ry Cooder & The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces: Let's Have a Ball
(1988)
Himself
Motion and Emotion: The Road to 'Paris, Texas'
(1990)
Self
Motion and Emotion: The Films of Wim Wenders
(1990)
Self
John Lee Hooker and Friends 1984-1992
(1992)
The Great Music Experience - Nara City Japan 1994
(1994)
Self
Ry Cooder & David Lindley: Live at the Fillmore Auditorium
(1994)
guitar, vocals
The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart
(1997)
Himself
Buena Vista Social Club
(1999)
Self
Warren Zevon: Keep Me in Your Heart
(2003)
Self
John Lee Hooker: Come and See About Me
(2004)
Talking Guitars
(2008)
himself
ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2014
(2014)
Self
This Ain't No Mouse Music!
(2014)
Self
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
(2019)
Self
Wim Wenders, Desperado
(2020)
Self (archive footage)
Writing
Production