“To me, the essence of the music is the most important thing.”

American musician, songwriter, film score composer, record producer, and writer

Ry Cooder is an American musician, songwriter, film score composer, record producer, and writer. He is known for a career that spans several musical roles, and for the slide guitar style that became his signature. He is also noted for his interest in traditional music and for working with traditional musicians from many countries. That range has shaped a body of work that moves between performance, composition, production, and writing, with a steady focus on music rooted in older forms and local traditions.