Ry Cooder

Ry Cooder is a celebrated multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, film score composer, and record producer, widely recognized for his innovative approach to traditional music genres and influential collaborations with artists across the globe. After gaining initial recognition playing with Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, notably on the 1967 album Safe as Milk, Ry Cooder went on to establish himself as a celebrated multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, film score composer, and record producer. His early career saw him work with Taj Mahal in The Rising Sons and contribute to albums by Randy Newman. Cooder’s distinct slide guitar work was featured on The Rolling Stones’ Let It Bleed in 1969 and Sticky Fingers in 1971.

His production of Buena Vista Social Club (1997) became a global phenomenon, winning a Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Performance and inspiring an Academy Award-nominated documentary film in 1999. Cooder also received a Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children for Pecos Bill in 1988. More recently, Cooder has continued to release critically acclaimed solo albums exploring cultural history and sociopolitical themes, such as Chávez Ravine (2005), My Name Is Buddy (2007), I, Flathead (2008), Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down (2011), Election Special (2012), and The Prodigal Son (2018). He garnered additional Grammy Awards for Best Pop Instrumental Album for Mambo Sinuendo in 2003 and as producer for Ibrahim Ferrer’s Buenos Hermanos (Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album) in the same year.

He has also been recognized with honorary doctorates from Queen’s University (2000) and California Institute of the Arts (2001).