Ry Cooder

Ry Cooder

Born: March 15, 1947
in Los Angeles, California, USA
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.

Movies for Ry Cooder...

Wim Wenders, Desperado
Title: Wim Wenders, Desperado
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: July 16, 2020
Type: Movie
"Wings Of Desire" and "Buena Vista Social Club", "Paris, Texas" and "The State Of Things": Wim Wenders is considered one of the pioneers of New German Cinema and one of the most important and influential representatives of contemporary cinema. With never before shown archive material and extraordinary encounters with companions and contemporary witnesses such as Francis Ford Coppola, Willem Dafoe, Andie MacDowell, Hanns Zischler, Patti Smith and Werner Herzog, this documentary provides unique insights into the life and work of one of the most multifaceted artists of our times. Renowned documentary filmmaker Eric Friedler ("It Must Schwing. The Blue Note Story") and his co-director Andreas Frege were given the exclusive opportunity to portray Wenders for this film. From Dusseldorf to Paris, and all the way to the desert of Texas, the film traces iconic locations and decisive moments in Wenders' work as director, producer, photographer and author.
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Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
Title: Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
Character: Self
Released: September 6, 2019
Type: Movie
With one of the most memorably stunning voices that has ever hit the airwaves, Linda Ronstadt burst onto the 1960s folk rock music scene in her early twenties.
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ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2014
Title: ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2014
Character: Self
Released: November 22, 2014
Type: Movie
Austin City Limits (ACL) heads to Nashville for a special broadcast featuring performance highlights from this year’s Americana Honors & Awards. ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2014 premieres this Saturday, November 22, on PBS stations across the United States and includes performances from Robert Plant and Ry Cooder, among many others. The show was recorded live at the Americana Music Association's 13th Annual Honors & Awards ceremony at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium in September.
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This Ain't No Mouse Music!
Title: This Ain't No Mouse Music!
Character: Self
Released: September 26, 2014
Type: Movie
Loving, music-filled tribute to Chris Strachwitz, guiding force behind legendary roots music label Arhoolie Records. With Ry Cooder, Clifton Chenier, Richard Thompson, Flaco Jiménez and a new generation of roots musicians.
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Talking Guitars
Title: Talking Guitars
Character: himself
Released: May 1, 2008
Type: Movie
"Talking Guitars" is an intimate portrait of master guitar craftsman, Flip Scipio. The behind-the-scenes music-documentary illustrates the fascinating juxtaposition of the quiet artist and the world of musicians who seek his expertise. His clients include Jackson Browne, David Lindley, Ben Taylor, Paul Simon, David Tronzo, Leni Stern and Carly Simon. It is claimed that Flip "can make the worst piece of sh*t sing". For himself "Music is like Esperanto"; a universal language.
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John Lee Hooker: Come and See About Me
Title: John Lee Hooker: Come and See About Me
Released: June 1, 2004
Type: Movie
Come And See About Me illustrates the career of John Lee Hooker through complete archival performances of his most popular songs, many featuring special guests.
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Warren Zevon: Keep Me in Your Heart
Title: Warren Zevon: Keep Me in Your Heart
Character: Self
Released: August 24, 2003
Type: Movie
A cinema verite portrait of the recording of Zevon's swansong album: 'The Wind' - the twelfth and final studio album by Warren Zevon, was released 11 years ago today (26 August 2003). Zevon began recording the album shortly after he was diagnosed with inoperable plural mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lung), and it was released just two weeks before his death on September 7, 2003. The album was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
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Buena Vista Social Club
Title: Buena Vista Social Club
Character: Self
Released: June 4, 1999
Type: Movie
In this fascinating Oscar-nominated documentary, American guitarist Ry Cooder brings together a group of legendary Cuban folk musicians (some in their 90s) to record a Grammy-winning CD in their native city of Havana. The result is a spectacular compilation of concert footage from the group's gigs in Amsterdam and New York City's famed Carnegie Hall, with director Wim Wenders capturing not only the music -- but also the musicians' life stories.
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The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart
Title: The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart
Character: Himself
Released: August 19, 1997
Type: Movie
Elaine Shepherd’s classic BBC documentary, introduced and narrated by John Peel. Completely wonderful, a 50 minute joy: reviews, articles, blog posts, etc. relating to The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart.
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The Great Music Experience - Nara City Japan 1994
Title: The Great Music Experience - Nara City Japan 1994
Character: Self
Released: May 20, 1994
Type: Movie
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Ry Cooder & David Lindley: Live at the Fillmore Auditorium
Title: Ry Cooder & David Lindley: Live at the Fillmore Auditorium
Character: guitar, vocals
Released: April 27, 1994
Type: Movie
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John Lee Hooker and Friends 1984-1992
Title: John Lee Hooker and Friends 1984-1992
Released: March 8, 1992
Type: Movie
John Lee Hooker is one of the few legendary bluesmen to crack the MTV barrier. He has recorded and performed with a host of contemporary pop stars. John Lee's music hasn't changed but the accompanying musicians have. This 60 minute video presents John Lee performing with many of his friends from 1984 to 1992. Ry Cooder duets on three tracks. Robert Cray burns up the fretboard on Mr. Lucky, John Hammond plays slide behind Father Was a Jockey and Bonnie Raitt cajoles and teases on "I'm In The Mood".
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Motion and Emotion: The Films of Wim Wenders
Title: Motion and Emotion: The Films of Wim Wenders
Character: Self
Released: April 25, 1990
Type: Movie
Though very polite and British, this feature-length documentary about German filmmaker Wim Wenders offers the most penetrating insights and the best overall critique of his work that I have encountered anywhere. Paul Joyce, who directed it, has also made documentaries about Nicolas Roeg, David Cronenberg, Nagisa Oshima, and Dennis Hopper, and he knows the conventional format well enough to get the most out of it. There are good clips and interesting commentaries from the interviewed subjects, who include Wenders himself, cinematographer Robby Muller, filmmaker Sam Fuller, novelist Patricia Highsmith, musician Ry Cooder, actors Harry Dean Stanton, Peter Falk, and Hanns Zischler, and critic Kraft Wetzel, who is especially provocative. A must-see for Wenders fans, highly recommended for everyone else. –Jonathan Rosenbaum, 1989
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Motion and Emotion: The Road to 'Paris, Texas'
Title: Motion and Emotion: The Road to 'Paris, Texas'
Character: Self
Released: April 25, 1990
Type: Movie
Documentary about the making of Wim Wenders' 1984 film, with interviews conducted in 1989.
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Ry Cooder & The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces: Let's Have a Ball
Title: Ry Cooder & The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces: Let's Have a Ball
Character: Himself
Released: January 1, 1988
Type: Movie
Following a brief statement by Ry Cooder on his thoughts about performing - and improvising - on stage, this concert film depicts Cooder's 1987 live show in Santa Cruz, California, which was part of his "Get Rhythm" world tour.
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Randy Newman: At the Odeon
Title: Randy Newman: At the Odeon
Character: Himself
Released: October 1, 1982
Type: Movie
Recorded live at New York's legendary Odeon nightclub, this one-hour 1983 concert features award-winning songwriter Randy Newman, with guests Ry Cooder and Linda Ronstadt. Mingling humorous lyrics with a blend of New Orleans R&B, traditional pop, and folk, Newman sings his favorites, including "I Love L.A.," "Burn On, Big River," "Short People," "Political Science," "Rednecks," "Guilty," "My Life Is Good" and "I Think It's Going to Rain Today."
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The Long Riders
Title: The Long Riders
Character: Wedding Band Guitar Player (uncredited)
Released: May 16, 1980
Type: Movie
The origins, exploits and the ultimate fate of the James gang is told in a sympathetic portrayal of the bank robbers made up of brothers who begin their legendary bank raids because of revenge.
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Title: Austin City Limits
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1975
Type: TV
Now the longest-running music series in American television history, ACL showcases popular music legends and innovators from every genre.
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Title: Rockpalast
Released: October 4, 1974
Type: TV
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Ry Cooder: How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
Title: Ry Cooder: How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
Released: December 3, 1970
Type: Movie
An introduction to the world of Ry Cooder and his debut album on Warner Bros. Records. Cooder talks about old movies, trailers and the lay of the land. And most of all about the inspiration from Blind Alfred Reed's song "How can a poor man stand such times and live?"
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Title: The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Character: Self
Released: October 1, 1962
Type: TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night. For its first ten years, Carson's Tonight Show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California; in May 1972, the show moved permanently to Burbank, California. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked #12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.