I just feel that music is a great life because it's very rewarding. It's a gratification. You do this for yourself, and… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
People have all sorts of expectations which you can't meet. Me, I'm so reclusive I stay away from such things as much… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
You have to be around people you trust; otherwise you can't do anything - you're afraid, you're paranoid, and you can't do… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
I don't understand the public, but I do believe the public is oversold and underrated every day. Give the people something interesting,… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
All I know is, I play the guitar, beat it out, and sing a song that has some damn resonance that we… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
After all is said and done and institutions fail, people still have some ability to care for each other. — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
If you're white working with non-white people, you will be branded as a colonialist by some people, regardless of your efforts or… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
Some people have career plans, long-range career plans. I don't know anything about that. I'm no good at it. — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
Once you feel that you've learned some skills and you know how to make records, the next thing is, "Do we ever… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
I always have felt that most people don't have the first idea about what musicians, in the traditional sense - I don't… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
If it hadn't been for record people like Ralph Peer, the Chess brothers, and Alan Lomax, then life would've been unbelievably dull,… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
Uncle Dave Macon was a great balladeer and banjo player from the early part of the 19th century... He would take a… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
If you're taught to hate and fear a people or a country, and it works, it's because of your ignorance of that… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
The environment is rarely put on tape, or if it is, it's so abstract that most people never realize it. They just… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
People who aren't as interested in recorded music as they used to be will say, 'Oh, 'Buena Vista?' Loved it.' And I'll… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
Some things I like to do better than other things, but I've got to say that in the end, the thing that… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
Most folks, when they see movies or hear records, need something that they find pulls them in, draws them in, and appeals… — Ry Cooder Copy Share Image
I got a reputation for being 'eclectic' or some damn thing like that, but to me, the different kinds of music I play are… — Ry Cooder Copy Share
The '50s was the golden age of music all over the world for some crazy, 'X-File'-like reason I can't quite understand. — Ry Cooder Copy Share
I had a lot of luck in meeting great musicians who were kind enough to show me things. — Ry Cooder Copy Share
You can play as good as you want, but you have to sing from a place of living. — Ry Cooder Copy Share
I give up on pop music. As far as a commercial entity, as far as pop music goes, I quit; I absolutely throw in… — Ry Cooder Copy Share
The story of American pop music is the story of failure. The blues, country music, it's not the story of success. People don't win;… — Ry Cooder Copy Share
If you're white working with non-white people, you will be branded as a colonialist by some people, regardless of your efforts or intentions. — Ry Cooder Copy Share
On any given day, if I play the guitar, I can put myself somewhere. I always thought, 'This is the way you go.' It's… — Ry Cooder Copy Share
I always have felt that most people don't have the first idea about what musicians, in the traditional sense - I don't mean in… — Ry Cooder Copy Share
Music is all starting to sound alike in the modern era. Afro-pop sounds exactly like L.A. pop - there's no difference, no ambience, no… — Ry Cooder Copy Share
The Delmore Brothers is hit music - very, very popular - and it still retains that rural flavor and simplicity. I always think of… — Ry Cooder Copy Share
