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Ry Cooder is a Actor and Original Music Composer Cubain born on 15 march 1947 at Los Angeles (USA)

Ry Cooder

Ry Cooder
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Birth name Ryland Peter Cooder
Nationality Cuba
Birth 15 march 1947 (77 years) at Los Angeles (USA)

Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder (born March 15, 1947) is an American musician. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.

His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing folk, blues, Tex-Mex, soul, gospel, rock, and much else. He has collaborated with many musicians, notably including Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Randy Newman, David Lindley, and The Doobie Brothers. He briefly formed a band named Little Village.

Ry Cooder produced the Buena Vista Social Club album (1997), which became a worldwide hit. Wim Wenders directed the documentary film of the same name (1999), which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000.

He was ranked eighth on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". A 2010 ranking by Gibson placed him at number 32.

Biography

Jeunesse
À l'âge de trois ans, un accident lui fait perdre la vue de l'œil gauche. Après avoir débuté au club Ash Grove de Los Angeles, où il côtoie de vieux bluesmen et vétérans du folk, il forme en 1964 avec Taj Mahal, Gary Marker et Jesse Lee Kincaid le groupe Rising Sons, qui ne produit alors qu'un seul disque microsillon format 45 tours (un album complet de leurs enregistrements de 1964/1966 sortira finalement en 1992). Leur producteur Terry Melcher le remarque et l'aide à ouvrir les portes des studios de Los Angeles. Il joue alors avec Randy Newman, Jackie DeShannon, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Gentle Soul, The Ceyleib People.
Il enregistre également avec le Captain Beefheart's Magic Band pour le premier album du Captain, Safe as Milk.
Sa grande maîtrise technique (c'est un des grands spécialistes de la slide guitar) et sa connaissance des répertoires du blues et du folk le font remarquer en 1969 par les Rolling Stones, avec lesquels il participe aux sessions des albums Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers et du projet Jamming With Edward avec Nicky Hopkins. C'est ainsi lui qui joue la partie de slide guitar sur Sister Morphine ainsi que sur la musique du film de Mick Jagger Performance (notamment le titre Memo From Turner).


Années 1970
Guitariste et chanteur, explorateur et interprète de la musique traditionnelle des États-Unis et des musiques du monde, il commence dans les années 1970 à voyager et à travailler avec des musiciens d'autres régions et pays. Il rencontre ainsi le producteur de Memphis Jim Dickinson (qui produira certains de ses premiers albums et l'accompagnera sur de nombreux projets), puis les musiciens hawaïens (plusieurs albums sous son nom ou avec Gabby Pahinui), et les musiciens Tex Mex tels Flaco Jimenez (qui l'initie à l'accordéon). Ses voyages l'emmèneront également à Okinawa (albums avec Shoukichi Kina et les Nenes), en Irlande (sessions avec The Chieftains) et en Galice (un album de Carlos Núñez) ainsi qu'à enregistrer avec Ali Farka Touré du Mali pour l'album Talking Timbuktu, salué par la critique. En Inde
il rencontre le guitariste Vishwa Mohan Bhatt avec lequel il enregistre Meeting By The River.
Il enregistre ponctuellement avec des bluesmen américains tels Clarence Gatemouth Brown ou John Lee Hooker.
Il a développé une étroite relation avec le multi-instrumentiste David Lindley, dont le parcours est très comparable. Chaque album de Cooder correspond à un style de musique et à une guitare.

Depuis les années 1960, Ry Cooder a enregistré de très nombreuses sessions pour des musiciens tels Arlo Guthrie, Randy Newman, Buffy Sainte-Marie, The Everly Brothers, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Van Morrison,Little Feat, Steve Young, Aaron Neville. Et surtout son amitié avec un autre slide guitariste David Lindley, que l'on retrouve sur pratiquement tous les albums de Ry et toutes les BO, lui a permis d'enchaîner concerts sur tournées, seuls tous les deux ou en formation réduite et familiale, le fils de Ry aux percussions et la femme de David au chant.

Dans les années 1970, son travail dans les studios de Los Angeles l'a amené à collaborer à des musiques de films, et graduellement il devient compositeur et producteur des bandes sons de films de Wim Wenders pour Paris, Texas, Louis Malle, Walter Hill. Il a signé ou travaillé à plus de vingt musiques de films, la plus connue demeurant Paris, Texas.


Années 1980
Ry, depuis les années 1980, produit ses propres disques et ceux des musiciens de son entourage tels Bobby King & Terry Evans. Il a fondé le label Perro Verde pour ses projets, dont les albums avec Manuel Galban, Chavez Ravine.


Années 1990
Ry Cooder a fait partie en 1992 avec John Hiatt, Nick Lowe et Jim Keltner du groupe éphémère Little Village.

En 1995, il remporte le Grammy Awards du meilleur album « World » avec Ali Farka Touré, multi-instrumentiste africain, pour l'album Talking Timbuktu produit par lui-même. Jim Keltner aux percussions, un collaborateur régulier de Ry, mais aussi le guitariste Clarence Gatemouth Brown, le bassiste John Patitucci, et des musiciens africains dont Hamma Sankare et Oumar Toure collaborent au disque.

En 1996, il s'implique dans un projet du label World Circuit à Cuba et devient ainsi le producteur de l'album Buena Vista Social Club qui remet à l'honneur les vétérans du son cubain Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzalez et Compay Segundo. Marqué par cette rencontre avec Cuba, Ry jouera ou produira ensuite des albums de Ibrahim Ferrer, de Ruben Gonzalez, Eliades Ochoa et Manuel Galban.


Années 2000
En 2002 il sort un album en duo avec Manuel Galban.

En 2004-2005, il travaille sur un ambitieux projet illustrant les méfaits de la spéculation immobilière sur une communauté de Chicanos du Los Angeles des années 1950. Il y implique de nombreux musiciens Chicanos, souvent âgés, et l'album Chávez Ravine sort en 2005.

En 2007 il sort l'album Buddy et produit celui de Mavis Staples.

En 2008 l'album I Flathead parait.

En 2013 il écrit et fait paraître le recueil de nouvelles Los Angeles Nostalgie.

Best films

Primary Colors (1998)
(Original Music Composer)
Brewster's Millions (1985)
(Original Music Composer)
Dead Man Walking (1996)
(Music Producer)
Paris, Texas (1984)
(Original Music Composer)

Usually with

Allan Graf
Allan Graf
(11 films)
Walter Hill
Walter Hill
(11 films)
Wim Wenders
Wim Wenders
(3 films)
James Keach
James Keach
(1 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Ry Cooder (19 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

Buena Vista Social Club, 1h45
Directed by Wim Wenders
Origin German
Genres Documentary, Musical
Themes Seafaring films, Films about music and musicians, Transport films, Documentary films about music and musicians, Documentaire sur une personnalité, Musiques du monde, Musical films
Actors Ry Cooder
Roles Self
Rating75% 3.798753.798753.798753.798753.79875
The film documents how Ry Cooder, long-time friend of Wenders, brought together the ensemble of legendary Cuban musicians to record an album (also called Buena Vista Social Club) and to perform two times with a full line-up: in April 1998 in Amsterdam (two nights) and the 1st of July 1998 in the United States (at the Carnegie Hall, New York City). Although they are geographically close, travel between Cuba and the United States is restricted due to the political tension between the two countries, so many of the artists were travelling there for the first time. The film shows their reactions to this experience, as well as including footage of the resultant sell-out concert. It also includes interviews with each of the main performers.
The Long Riders, 1h39
Directed by Walter Hill, Craig R. Baxley
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action, Historical, Crime, Western
Themes Films about families, Jesse James, Gangster films
Actors James Keach, Stacy Keach, David Carradine, James Withmore Jr., Robert Carradine, Keith Carradine
Roles Wedding Band Guitar Player (uncredited)
Rating68% 3.4476753.4476753.4476753.4476753.447675
During the years following the Civil War, banks and trains become the targets of the James-Younger gang, outlaws who terrorize the Midwestern United States. The band of robbers is led by Jesse James and Cole Younger, along with several of their brothers.

Sound

My Blueberry Nights, 1h35
Directed by Wong Kar-wai
Origin Hong kong
Genres Drama, Comedy-drama, Romance
Themes Transport films, Road movies
Actors Norah Jones, Jude Law, David Strathairn, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rachel Weisz, Natalie Portman
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating65% 3.2986753.2986753.2986753.2986753.298675
Jeremy is an émigré from Manchester who owns a small New York City cafe. The cafe becomes a haven for Elizabeth, a young woman, as Jeremy tells her that he saw her boyfriend cheating on her. Devastated, she stays in his cafe the entire night, eating a blueberry pie he made, and also telling stories about each other. Jeremy, having an eidetic memory, explains her the bowl of keys he is keeping, knowing the story of every person who left the key in his cafe and keeping it in the bowl in case someone comes back for them. Elizabeth leaves her key of her apartment and leaves Jeremy's cafe.
Buena Vista Social Club, 1h45
Directed by Wim Wenders
Origin German
Genres Documentary, Musical
Themes Seafaring films, Films about music and musicians, Transport films, Documentary films about music and musicians, Documentaire sur une personnalité, Musiques du monde, Musical films
Actors Ry Cooder
Roles Music Producer
Rating75% 3.798753.798753.798753.798753.79875
The film documents how Ry Cooder, long-time friend of Wenders, brought together the ensemble of legendary Cuban musicians to record an album (also called Buena Vista Social Club) and to perform two times with a full line-up: in April 1998 in Amsterdam (two nights) and the 1st of July 1998 in the United States (at the Carnegie Hall, New York City). Although they are geographically close, travel between Cuba and the United States is restricted due to the political tension between the two countries, so many of the artists were travelling there for the first time. The film shows their reactions to this experience, as well as including footage of the resultant sell-out concert. It also includes interviews with each of the main performers.
Primary Colors, 2h23
Directed by Mike Nichols
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Comedy, Comedy-drama
Themes Politique, Political films
Actors John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates, Adrian Lester, Maura Lynn Tierney
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating66% 3.3479353.3479353.3479353.3479353.347935
Young political idealist Henry Burton (Adrian Lester) is recruited to join the campaign of Jack Stanton (John Travolta), a charismatic Southern governor who is trying to win the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States. Henry is impressed by Stanton's genuine warmth and empathy with people. He joins Stanton's inner circle of political advisers: Stanton's formidable wife, Susan Stanton (Emma Thompson); ruthless, redneck political strategist Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton); intelligent and attractive spokeswoman Daisy Green (Maura Tierney); and sly political operator Howard Ferguson (Paul Guilfoyle) as they journey to New Hampshire, the first state to hold a presidential primary.
The End of Violence, 2h2
Directed by Wim Wenders
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller
Actors Bill Pullman, Gabriel Byrne, Traci Lind, Rosalind Chao, Andie MacDowell, K. Todd Freeman
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating55% 2.799822.799822.799822.799822.79982
Movie producer Mike Max meditates on the paranoia of fear of attack, in the movie business and life in general, as his wife Page announces she is leaving him. He receives a document via email from a NASA employee he met earlier at a conference. Before opening it he is kidnapped and almost killed, a scene captured by surveillance cameras and witnessed by computer scientist Ray Bering on surveillance footage scene in his laboratory at the Griffith Observatory. However, it soon turns out the two men have been shot, Max has escaped and now is accused of killing them. He takes shelter with, and goes to work for, the Mexican gardeners who find him and they help him investigate who is trying to kill him and why. Bering, who originally sent Max the email and recognized Max in the surveillance footage, has a conversation with an intelligence agent who makes it clear that anyone who gets in the way of a new “anti-crime” satellite surveillance program not yet approved by Congress will be dealt with terminally. Detective Dean Brock suspects Max is not a killer and on a tip meets with Bering, who is assassinated by a gunshot as they begin to speak. Max gives up his business and money to his wife and the movie ends as he meditates on how a real attack has freed him from paranoia.
Dead Man Walking, 2h2
Directed by Tim Robbins
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Crime
Themes Prison films, Films about capital punishment
Actors Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Margo Martindale, Robert Prosky, Lois Smith, Jack Black
Roles Music Producer
Rating74% 3.748833.748833.748833.748833.74883
Matthew Poncelet has been in prison for six years, awaiting his execution by lethal injection for killing a teenage couple. Poncelet, held in the Louisiana State Penitentiary, committed the crimes with a man named Carl Vitello, who received life imprisonment. As the day of his execution comes closer, Poncelet asks Sister Helen, with whom he has corresponded, to help him with a final appeal.
Last Man Standing, 1h41
Directed by Walter Hill
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Adventure, Crime, Western
Themes Mafia films, Gangster films
Actors Bruce Willis, Christopher Walken, Alexandra Powers, David Patrick Kelly, Karina Lombard, Bruce Dern
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating63% 3.1992953.1992953.1992953.1992953.199295
In 1932, Prohibition-era Texas, a mysterious character named John Smith (Bruce Willis) drives into Jericho, near the Mexican border (Population: 57), in his Ford Model A Coupe. Mere moments after arriving in the city, he takes a look at a young woman named Felina (Karina Lombard), and because of that, he is surrounded by Irish mobsters led by Finn, who is working under Doyle (David Patrick Kelly), Finn promptly smashes Smiths' car and leaves it in a state of disarray, telling him that nobody can even look at the girl since she is "Doyle's property". Smith doesn't react, but instead, he checks into a small bar/hotel run by Joe Monday (William Sanderson).
Geronimo: An American Legend, 1h55
Directed by Walter Hill
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Action, Historical, Western
Actors Wes Studi, Jason Patric, Robert Duvall, Gene Hackman, Matt Damon, Pato Hoffmann
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating64% 3.2480153.2480153.2480153.2480153.248015
The film follows the events leading up to the capture of Geronimo in 1886. The Apache Indians have reluctantly agreed to settle on a U.S. government approved reservation. Not all the Apaches are able to adapt to the life of corn farmers, and one in particular, Geronimo, is restless. Pushed over the edge by broken promises and unnecessary actions by the government, Geronimo and 30 other warriors form an attack team which humiliates the government by evading capture, while reclaiming what is rightfully theirs. The plot centers upon Charles Gatewood (Jason Patric), the U.S. cavalry lieutenant charged with capturing the elusive Apache leader with the assistance of a scout leader Al Sieber (Robert Duvall) and a young graduate Britton Davis (Matt Damon). Gatewood is torn by a grudging respect for Geronimo and his people, and his duty to his country. But then all the white men in the film have respect for Geronimo, even as they are trying to hunt him down and kill him. Brigadier General George Crook (Gene Hackman), charged with overseeing the forced settlement of the Apaches on reservations has nothing but admiration for Geronimo. Geronimo surrenders to Crook but later escapes taking half the reservation with him. Gatewood Sieber Davis and a group of soilders are out to capture Geronimo. Crook later resigns from the army and is later replaced by General Nelson Miles. The next day Gatewood Sieber Davis and apache Chato come across some slaughtered Indians. then they stop at a bar but there are bounty hunters there and they threaten to kill Chato for money which results in a shootout in which Sieber is shot and mortally wounded. Gatewood Davis and Chato carry on to Capture Geronimo. Geronimo makes peace with Gatewood and surrenders along with the other apache to General Miles. Gatewood is transferred to a remote Garrison in North Wyoming while Davis resigns from the army.
Trespass
Trespass (1992)
, 1h37
Directed by Walter Hill
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Action, Adventure, Crime
Themes Films about music and musicians, Hip hop films, Gangster films, Disaster films
Actors Bill Paxton, Ice-T, William Sadler, Ice Cube, Art Evans, De'voreaux White
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating62% 3.1498753.1498753.1498753.1498753.149875
Two Arkansas firemen, Vince (Bill Paxton) and Don (William Sadler), meet an hysterical old man in a burning building. The old man hands them a map, prays for forgiveness, then allows himself to be engulfed in flames. Outside the fire and away from everyone else, Don does a little research and finds out that the man was a thief who stole a large amount of gold valuables from a church and hid them in a building in East St. Louis. The two decide to drive there, thinking they can get there, get the gold, and get back in one day.
Johnny Handsome, 1h34
Directed by Walter Hill
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Crime
Themes Heist films, Gangster films, Escroquerie
Actors Mickey Rourke, Ellen Barkin, Elizabeth McGovern, Lance Henriksen, Scott Wilson, Forest Whitaker
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating61% 3.052093.052093.052093.052093.05209
John Sedley is a man with a disfigured face, mocked by others as "Johnny Handsome." He and a friend are double-crossed by two accomplices in a crime, Sunny Boyd and her partner Rafe, and a judge sends Johnny to jail, where he vows to get even once he gets out.
Extreme Prejudice, 1h44
Directed by Walter Hill
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Adventure, Crime, Western
Themes Sports films, Martial arts films
Actors Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, María Conchita Alonso, Michael Ironside, Clancy Brown, Mickey Jones
Roles Music Producer
Rating65% 3.2960253.2960253.2960253.2960253.296025
Master Sergeant Larry McRose, U.S. Army, Frankfurt, West Germany Report to Zombie Unit, El Paso, Texas
Blue City
Blue City (1986)
, 1h23
Directed by Michelle Manning
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Crime
Themes Political films
Actors Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, David Caruso, Paul Winfield, Scott Wilson, Anita Morris
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating44% 2.213492.213492.213492.213492.21349
Returning to the small Florida town where he grew up, Billy Turner (Judd Nelson) learns that his father has been killed. With little help from the police, Billy will take matters into his own hands and go up against a ruthless local mob in a desperate search to find the killer.
Crossroads
Crossroads (1986)
, 1h36
Directed by Walter Hill
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Transport films, Films about automobiles, Le blues, Musical films, Road movies, Buddy films
Actors Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca, Jami Gertz, Joe Morton, Tim Russ, Dennis Lipscomb
Roles Musician
Rating71% 3.551583.551583.551583.551583.55158
Eugene Martone (Ralph Macchio) is a classical guitar student at the Juilliard School for Performing Arts in New York City who has an obsession for the blues, especially the famed Robert Johnson. Most intriguing are the legends surrounding exactly how Johnson became so talented most notably the one claiming he "sold his soul to the Devil at the crossroads" along with a supposed lost song that Johnson never recorded.
Alamo Bay
Alamo Bay (1985)
, 1h38
Directed by Louis Malle
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Themes Films about animals, Seafaring films, Politique, Transport films, Political films
Actors Amy Madigan, Ed Harris, James Hong, Donald Moffat, Martin LaSalle, William Frankfather
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating60% 3.0485753.0485753.0485753.0485753.048575
Un vétéran du Viêt Nam dépressif prend part à l'arrivée de réfugiés vietnamiens dans le port d'Alamo Bay et des tensions qui en découlent...