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Tag: Ry Cooder

Ry Cooder – The Prodigal Son
Ry Cooder: A Pioneering Influence in Blues and Beyond

Ry Cooder, born Ryland Peter Cooder on March 15, 1947, in Los Angeles, California, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer whose work has left a significant mark on the blues genre and American music as a whole. Known for his skillful guitar playing and deep understanding of roots music, Cooder has explored various musical styles, including blues, folk, and world music.

Musical Influence and Guitar Technique

Ry Cooder’s influence on the blues is profound due to his ability to blend traditional elements with contemporary sounds. He is particularly renowned for his slide guitar technique, a method where the guitarist uses a slide on their finger to glide over the strings rather than pressing them down. This technique creates a smooth, continuous sound that is a hallmark of blues music. Cooder’s approach often involves open tunings, which allow for richer and more resonant chords, making his music uniquely vibrant and emotionally expressive.

Key Albums

Over his career, Ry Cooder has released numerous albums that have been critical in shaping not just his reputation but also the landscape of American music:
1. “Ry Cooder” (1970) – His debut album showcased his knack for blending different genres, with a strong focus on American roots music.
2. “Into the Purple Valley” (1972) – This album further explored American traditional music, including blues, folk, and early jazz.
3. “Bop Till You Drop” (1979) – Notable for being the first major label album recorded digitally, it features a mix of R&B and soul, showcasing Cooder’s diverse musical interests.
4. “Paris, Texas” (1985) – This soundtrack for the film of the same name is among Cooder’s most acclaimed works, with its haunting slide guitar pieces that perfectly captured the movie’s moody visuals.
Collaborations with Famous Musicians

Ry Cooder has worked with a variety of famous musicians across different genres. His collaboration with Indian musician V.M. Bhatt on the album “A Meeting by the River” won a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album in 1994. He also collaborated with the Cuban group Buena Vista Social Club, helping to bring the music of pre-revolutionary Cuba back to mainstream recognition. This project not only revitalized the careers of several Cuban musicians but also influenced Western perceptions of Latin music.

Life and Career

Cooder began playing guitar at age three. He developed an interest in American folk music and the blues in his early years, influenced by the sounds of his surroundings in Southern California. Throughout his career, Cooder has been known not just for his music but also for his views on social and cultural issues, often reflected in his work.

In addition to his solo albums, he has scored multiple films and has been a sought-after session musician, contributing to the recordings of The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, and many others. Despite his extensive work, he remains somewhat of a cult figure, respected more within musician circles than in mainstream music.

Conclusion

Ry Cooder’s contributions to music have been characterized by his innovative guitar techniques and his ability to bring forgotten music styles to a new audience. His exploration of various musical traditions and cultures, combined with his distinctive style of play, has significantly influenced the blues and many other music genres. His dedication to preserving and celebrating musical heritage continues to inspire musicians around the world.

Ry Cooder – The Prodigal Son

Thank You!

We appreciate your time and dedication to reading our article. For more of the finest blues guitar music, make sure to follow our Facebook page, “I Love Blues Guitar”. We share exceptional selections every day. Thank you once again for your continued support and readership.
May 11, 2024
Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder – Statesboro Blues

Taj Mahal

Born in Harlem, New York but raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. His father was a jazz pianist, composer, arranger hailing from Jamaica. His mother was a teacher who sang gospel. She came from North Carolina. His grandfather married a woman from Saint Kitts.

He studied agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the early 1960s, graduating in 1964. (The same university awarded him the honorary title of Doctor of Fine Arts in 2006). There he founded Taj Mahal & Elektras. The name Taj Mahal was inspired by a dream.

After college, he moved to Los Angeles and founded the Rising Sons group with Ry Cooder in 1964. The band signed with Columbia Records and released a single and recorded an album that was not released by Columbia until 1992. Taj, frustrated by mixed feelings about his music, left the band and began a solo career. Still, with Columbia Records, he released an album of his own name in 1968. Building on his success, he released a second Natch’l Blues the same year. The Giant Step two-track set released in 1969 resulted in Taj’s strong position as an American blues artist. The title track has become iconic and is still popular with current audiences. Most memorable, however, was the performance of Cooder and Taj at The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.

His music comes from various sources: blues, cajun, gospel, bluegrass, Hawaiian, African, and Caribbean musical traditions. It sticks to the roots and adds a little bit of its own feeling. Plays many musical instruments.

Ryland Peter “Ry” Cooder

Ry Cooder is, without doubt, one of the most iconic bluesmen of the 20th Century, and that’s largely thanks to his distinctive slide guitar technique. He has worked with music legends such as Neil Young, The Rolling Stones and John Lee Hooker, and has proved massively influential in the world of blues music. In fact, he is even credited with introducing Keith Richards to open G tuning which has gone on to become a cornerstone of The Rolling Stones’ sound.

A 2003 list published in “Rolling Stone” credits Cooder as the 8th greatest guitar player in the world, and one of the most distinguishing features of his musical style is his versatility. He has been incredibly prolific as a session musician and film soundtrack artist, as well as a performer in his own right. His work can be heard on the soundtrack of iconic, era-defining movies such as “Performance” (which starred Mick Jagger) and 1984’s “Paris, Texas”, which was directed by legendary European filmmaker Wim Wenders.

We recommended checking out Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder’s latest album, GET ON BOARD, which is out now on Nonesuch Records: https://amzn.to/3MnQJNO

October 7, 2023
John Lee Hooker – Crawlin’ King Snake

Engage your senses: Press play on the video, then stimulate your brain with the article.

John Lee Hooker and Ry Cooder’s Timeless Blues

On October 10, 1992, blues legend John Lee Hooker and renowned guitarist Ry Cooder took the stage at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. The performance was part of the All Our Colors – The Good Road Concert, a benefit to help Native American communities in need.

John Lee Hooker was a towering figure in the world of blues. Born in Mississippi in 1917, he moved to Detroit in the 1940s and began recording for various labels, earning a reputation for his raw, authentic sound. Over the course of his six-decade career, he collaborated with a wide range of musicians and won numerous awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ry Cooder, too, was a respected musician with an impressive career. Born in Los Angeles in 1947, he began playing guitar at a young age and went on to become one of the most sought-after session players in the music industry. He was known for his eclectic taste and his ability to blend different genres and styles, making him a perfect match for Hooker’s bluesy sound.

A Benefit Concert for Native American Communities

During their performance at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, Hooker and Cooder played four songs, including “Lonely Man,” “Serves Me Right To Suffer,” “Hobo Blues,” and “Crawlin’ King Snake.” Despite the brevity of the set, the duo left a lasting impression on the crowd, their music a powerful testament to the enduring influence of the blues.

As the concert drew to a close, Hooker and Cooder took their final bows, the crowd still cheering and applauding. The benefit was a great success, with funds raised to help Native American communities in need. The music of Hooker and Cooder played a vital role in making it a night to remember, a celebration of two of the greatest musicians of their time and a testament to the power of music to bring people together.

Thank You

We appreciate your time and dedication to reading our article. For more of the finest blues guitar music, make sure to follow our Facebook page, “I Love Blues Guitar”. We share exceptional selections every day. Thank you once again for your continued support and readership.

February 18, 2023
Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder – Statesboro Blues

Taj Mahal

Born in Harlem, New York but raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. His father was a jazz pianist, composer, and arranger hailing from Jamaica. His mother was a teacher who sang gospel. She came from North Carolina. His grandfather married a woman from Saint Kitts.

He studied agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the early 1960s, graduating in 1964. (The same university awarded him the honorary title of Doctor of Fine Arts in 2006). There he founded Taj Mahal & Elektras. The name Taj Mahal was inspired by a dream.

After college, he moved to Los Angeles and founded the Rising Sons group with Ry Cooder in 1964. The band signed with Columbia Records and released a single and recorded an album that was not released by Columbia until 1992. Taj, frustrated by mixed feelings about his music, left the band and began a solo career. Still, with Columbia Records, he released an album of his own name in 1968. Building on his success, he released a second Natch’l Blues the same year. The Giant Step two-track set released in 1969 resulted in Taj’s strong position as an American blues artist. The title track has become iconic and is still popular with current audiences. Most memorable, however, was the performance of Cooder and Taj at The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.

His music comes from various sources: blues, cajun, gospel, bluegrass, Hawaiian, African, and Caribbean musical traditions. It sticks to the roots and adds a little bit of its own feeling. Plays many musical instruments.

Ryland Peter “Ry” Cooder

Ry Cooder is, without doubt, one of the most iconic bluesmen of the 20th Century, and that’s largely thanks to his distinctive slide guitar technique. He has worked with music legends such as Neil Young, The Rolling Stones and John Lee Hooker, and has proved massively influential in the world of blues music. In fact, he is even credited with introducing Keith Richards to open G tuning which has gone on to become a cornerstone of The Rolling Stones’ sound.

A 2003 list published in “Rolling Stone” credits Cooder as the 8th greatest guitar player in the world, and one of the most distinguishing features of his musical style is his versatility. He has been incredibly prolific as a session musician and film soundtrack artist, as well as a performer in his own right. His work can be heard on the soundtrack of iconic, era-defining movies such as “Performance” (which starred Mick Jagger) and 1984’s “Paris, Texas”, which was directed by legendary European filmmaker Wim Wenders.

Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder – Statesboro Blues

We recommended checking out Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder’s latest album, GET ON BOARD, which is out now on Nonesuch Records: https://amzn.to/3MnQJNO

October 8, 2022
Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder – Cornbread, Peas, Black Molasses

Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder perform “Cornbread, Peas, Black Molasses” from their album, GET ON BOARD, out now on Nonesuch Records: https://amzn.to/3MnQJNO

Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder – Cornbread, Peas, Black Molasses

Taj Mahal

Born in Harlem, New York but raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. His father was a jazz pianist, composer, arranger hailing from Jamaica. His mother was a teacher who sang gospel. She came from North Carolina. His grandfather married a woman from Saint Kitts.

He studied agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the early 1960s, graduating in 1964. (The same university awarded him the honorary title of Doctor of Fine Arts in 2006). There he founded Taj Mahal & Elektras. The name Taj Mahal was inspired by a dream.

After college, he moved to Los Angeles and founded the Rising Sons group withRy Cooder in 1964. The band signed with Columbia Records and released a single and recorded an album that was not released by Columbia until 1992. Taj, frustrated by mixed feelings about his music, left the band and began a solo career. Still, with Columbia Records, he released an album of his own name in 1968. Building on his success, he released a second Natch’l Blues the same year. The Giant Step two-track set released in 1969 resulted in Taj’s strong position as an American blues artist. The title track has become iconic and is still popular with current audiences. Most memorable, however, was the performance of Cooder and Taj at The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.

His music comes from various sources: blues, cajun, gospel, bluegrass, Hawaiian, African, and Caribbean musical traditions. It sticks to the roots and adds a little bit of its own feeling. Plays many musical instruments.

Ryland Peter “Ry” Cooder

Ry Cooder is, without doubt, one of the most iconic bluesmen of the 20th Century, and that’s largely thanks to his distinctive slide guitar technique. He has worked with music legends such as Neil Young, The Rolling Stones and John Lee Hooker, and has proved massively influential in the world of blues music. In fact, he is even credited with introducing Keith Richards to open G tuning which has gone on to become a cornerstone of The Rolling Stones’ sound.

A 2003 list published in “Rolling Stone” credits Cooder as the 8th greatest guitar player in the world, and one of the most distinguishing features of his musical style is his versatility. He has been incredibly prolific as a session musician and film soundtrack artist, as well as a performer in his own right. His work can be heard on the soundtrack of iconic, era-defining movies such as “Performance” (which starred Mick Jagger) and 1984’s “Paris, Texas”, which was directed by legendary European filmmaker Wim Wenders.

April 24, 2022
John Lee Hooker – Crawlin’ King Snake

John Lee Hooker and Ry Cooder’s Timeless Blues

The classic blues of John Lee Hooker and celebrated guitarist Ry Cooder was performed on October 10, 1992 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. This concert was part of the All Our Colors – The Good Road Concert, which aimed to help Native American communities that were struggling.

John Lee Hooker was an eminent figure in the realm of blues music. He was born in Mississippi in 1917, and in the 1940s he relocated to Detroit, where he started recording for various music labels. Hooker was well-known for his raw, genuine sound. He worked with a broad range of musicians throughout his six-decade-long career, and he was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.

Ry Cooder was also an esteemed musician with a remarkable career. He was born in Los Angeles in 1947 and began playing the guitar when he was young. He subsequently became one of the music industry’s most sought-after session musicians. Cooder was known for his varied musical preferences and his ability to fuse different genres and styles, which made him an excellent fit for Hooker’s bluesy sound.

A Benefit Concert for Native American Communities

During the Shoreline Amphitheatre performance, Hooker and Cooder played four songs: “Lonely Man,” “Serves Me Right To Suffer,” “Hobo Blues,” and “Crawlin’ King Snake.” Despite the brevity of the set, the duo made a lasting impression on the audience. Their music was a potent tribute to the long-lasting influence of the blues.

As the concert concluded, Hooker and Cooder took their final bows, while the audience continued to cheer and applaud. The benefit concert was a great success, and funds were raised to help the Native American communities in need. The music of Hooker and Cooder played an essential role in making it a memorable evening, a celebration of two of the most significant musicians of their time, and a demonstration of the power of music to bring people together.

February 18, 2022
Ry Cooder – Vigilante Man

Ry Cooder – Vigilante Man

He made me fall in love with slide. Here you can listen to a great interpretation of a Woody Guthrie classic. He play it in open D tuning. There is a lot to be learned in the notes he is playing.

Ryland Peter “Ry” Cooder

Ry Cooder is, without doubt, one of the most iconic bluesmen of the 20th Century, and that’s largely thanks to his distinctive slide guitar technique. He has worked with music legends such as Neil Young, The Rolling Stones and John Lee Hooker, and has proved massively influential in the world of blues music. In fact, he is even credited with introducing Keith Richards to open G tuning which has gone on to become a cornerstone of The Rolling Stones’ sound.

A 2003 list published in “Rolling Stone” credits Cooder as the 8th greatest guitar player in the world, and one of the most distinguishing features of his musical style is his versatility. He has been incredibly prolific as a session musician and film soundtrack artist, as well as a performer in his own right. His work can be heard on the soundtrack of iconic, era-defining movies such as “Performance” (which starred Mick Jagger) and 1984’s “Paris, Texas”, which was directed by legendary European filmmaker Wim Wenders.

Early work

His early work (including the solo albums he released throughout the 1970s) is his most guitar-driven and bluesy, while his later career has seen him embrace world music and the sounds of different cultures. For instance, he collaborated with the Hindustani classical composer Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Malian multi-instrumentalist Ali Farka Toure on the albums “A Meeting by the River” and “Talking Timbuktu”, respectively. Both of these albums received great acclaim for the way in which the Indian and African musical traditions were so effectively amplified and complemented by Ry Cooder’s guitar work and compositions. Paradoxically, he has continued to push boundaries whilst at the same time retaining a fascination and respect for traditional music. That’s what makes him such a vital part of America’s musical landscape, and ultimately what makes him such a unique performer.

September 18, 2021
Ry Cooder – My Girl Josephine

Ryland Peter “Ry” Cooder

Ry Cooder is, without doubt, one of the most iconic bluesmen of the 20th Century, and that’s largely thanks to his distinctive slide guitar technique. He has worked with music legends such as Neil Young, The Rolling Stones and John Lee Hooker, and has proved massively influential in the world of blues music. In fact, he is even credited with introducing Keith Richards to open G tuning which has gone on to become a cornerstone of The Rolling Stones’ sound.

A 2003 list published in “Rolling Stone” credits Cooder as the 8th greatest guitar player in the world, and one of the most distinguishing features of his musical style is his versatility. He has been incredibly prolific as a session musician and film soundtrack artist, as well as a performer in his own right. His work can be heard on the soundtrack of iconic, era-defining movies such as “Performance” (which starred Mick Jagger) and 1984’s “Paris, Texas”, which was directed by legendary European filmmaker Wim Wenders.

Early work

His early work (including the solo albums he released throughout the 1970s) is his most guitar-driven and bluesy, while his later career has seen him embrace world music and the sounds of different cultures. For instance, he collaborated with the Hindustani classical composer Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Malian multi-instrumentalist Ali Farka Toure on the albums “A Meeting by the River” and “Talking Timbuktu”, respectively. Both of these albums received great acclaim for the way in which the Indian and African musical traditions were so effectively amplified and complemented by Ry Cooder’s guitar work and compositions. Paradoxically, he has continued to push boundaries whilst at the same time retaining a fascination and respect for traditional music. That’s what makes him such a vital part of America’s musical landscape, and ultimately what makes him such a unique performer.

September 18, 2021
Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder – Cornbread, Peas, Black Molasses

Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder perform “Cornbread, Peas, Black Molasses” from their album, GET ON BOARD, out now on Nonesuch Records: https://amzn.to/3MnQJNO

Taj Mahal

Born in Harlem, New York but raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. His father was a jazz pianist, composer, arranger hailing from Jamaica. His mother was a teacher who sang gospel. She came from North Carolina. His grandfather married a woman from Saint Kitts.

He studied agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the early 1960s, graduating in 1964. (The same university awarded him the honorary title of Doctor of Fine Arts in 2006). There he founded Taj Mahal & Elektras. The name Taj Mahal was inspired by a dream.

After college, he moved to Los Angeles and founded the Rising Sons group withRy Cooder in 1964. The band signed with Columbia Records and released a single and recorded an album that was not released by Columbia until 1992. Taj, frustrated by mixed feelings about his music, left the band and began a solo career. Still, with Columbia Records, he released an album of his own name in 1968. Building on his success, he released a second Natch’l Blues the same year. The Giant Step two-track set released in 1969 resulted in Taj’s strong position as an American blues artist. The title track has become iconic and is still popular with current audiences. Most memorable, however, was the performance of Cooder and Taj at The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.

His music comes from various sources: blues, cajun, gospel, bluegrass, Hawaiian, African, and Caribbean musical traditions. It sticks to the roots and adds a little bit of its own feeling. Plays many musical instruments.

Ryland Peter “Ry” Cooder

Ry Cooder is, without doubt, one of the most iconic bluesmen of the 20th Century, and that’s largely thanks to his distinctive slide guitar technique. He has worked with music legends such as Neil Young, The Rolling Stones and John Lee Hooker, and has proved massively influential in the world of blues music. In fact, he is even credited with introducing Keith Richards to open G tuning which has gone on to become a cornerstone of The Rolling Stones’ sound.

A 2003 list published in “Rolling Stone” credits Cooder as the 8th greatest guitar player in the world, and one of the most distinguishing features of his musical style is his versatility. He has been incredibly prolific as a session musician and film soundtrack artist, as well as a performer in his own right. His work can be heard on the soundtrack of iconic, era-defining movies such as “Performance” (which starred Mick Jagger) and 1984’s “Paris, Texas”, which was directed by legendary European filmmaker Wim Wenders.

April 24, 2020
Ry Cooder – Vigilante Man

He made me fall in love with slide. Here you can listen to a great interpretation of a Woody Guthrie classic. He play it in open D tuning. There is a lot to be learned in the notes he is playing.

Ryland Peter “Ry” Cooder

Ry Cooder is, without doubt, one of the most iconic bluesmen of the 20th Century, and that’s largely thanks to his distinctive slide guitar technique. He has worked with music legends such as Neil Young, The Rolling Stones and John Lee Hooker, and has proved massively influential in the world of blues music. In fact, he is even credited with introducing Keith Richards to open G tuning which has gone on to become a cornerstone of The Rolling Stones’ sound.

A 2003 list published in “Rolling Stone” credits Cooder as the 8th greatest guitar player in the world, and one of the most distinguishing features of his musical style is his versatility. He has been incredibly prolific as a session musician and film soundtrack artist, as well as a performer in his own right. His work can be heard on the soundtrack of iconic, era-defining movies such as “Performance” (which starred Mick Jagger) and 1984’s “Paris, Texas”, which was directed by legendary European filmmaker Wim Wenders.

Early work

His early work (including the solo albums he released throughout the 1970s) is his most guitar-driven and bluesy, while his later career has seen him embrace world music and the sounds of different cultures. For instance, he collaborated with the Hindustani classical composer Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Malian multi-instrumentalist Ali Farka Toure on the albums “A Meeting by the River” and “Talking Timbuktu”, respectively. Both of these albums received great acclaim for the way in which the Indian and African musical traditions were so effectively amplified and complemented by Ry Cooder’s guitar work and compositions. Paradoxically, he has continued to push boundaries whilst at the same time retaining a fascination and respect for traditional music. That’s what makes him such a vital part of America’s musical landscape, and ultimately what makes him such a unique performer.

April 4, 2015