Ry Cooder has had a long and varied career as virtuoso session musician, recording artist, record producer, film scorer, musicologist and champion of indigenous music throughout the world. He started out as a guitarist of uncommon skill in Los Angeles folk music circles. He was briefly in a band with Taj Mahal called Rising Sons, and was also a part of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band. His slide guitar playing and his ability with just about any stringed instrument soon set him apart....  [+]