Born in Los Angeles, California on 15th March 1947, Cooder first attracted attention in the 1960s, playing with Captain Beefheart & his Magic Band, after having worked with Taj Mahal in The Rising Sons.
He was a session guitarist on various recording sessions with the Rolling Stones in 1968 and 1969; Cooder's contributions most notably appear on the Stones' Beggars Banquet where he shares a prominent credit with pianist, Nicky Hopkins on the back cover. He continued to appear on the succeeding albums, Let It Bleed, and Sticky Fingers, on which he contributed the haunting slide guitar solo to "Sister Morphine". Cooder is reputed to have taught Keith Richards to play in open-G tuning, now a Richards hallmark, as well as to have written the open-G signature riff of "Honky Tonk Women". He was briefly considered to fill the departed Brian Jones' place in the Rolling Stones, but reportedly Cooder and Keith Richards did not get along very well. For some time after the sessions, Cooder accused Keith Richards of "ripping him off" musically, but now refuses to talk about his experiences with the Stones. Cooder played slide guitar for the 1970 film Performance, which contained Mick Jagger's first solo single, "Memo from Turner" on which Cooder played guitar.
Throughout the 1970s Cooder released a series of Warner Brothers albums that showcased his guitar work, to some degree. In this respect, Cooder's guitar work on these records is not unlike the guitar playing of Robbie Robertson on the Band's albums: Both virtuosos emphasized song over solo. Cooder's 1970s albums spotlight, more than anything, a wide-ranging taste in music. Cooder has been seen as almost a musicologist, exploring bygone musical genres with personalized and sensitive, updated reworkings of revered originals. Cooder's 1970s albums (with the exception of Jazz) cannot be neatly pigeonholed by genre, But - to generalise broadly - it might be fair to call Cooder's first album blues; Into the Purple Valley, Boomer's Story, and Paradise and Lunch, folk + blues; Chicken Skin Music and Showtime, a unique melange of Tex-Mex and Hawaiian; Jazz, 1920s jazz; Bop till You Drop 1950s R&B and blues; and Borderline an eclectic mix of Tex-Mex with blues, R&B, and country and Get Rhythm, with more rock-based excursions.
Cooder has worked as a studio musician and has also scored many film soundtracks, of which perhaps the best known is that for the 1984 Wim Wenders film Paris, Texas. Ry Cooder based this soundtrack, and the haunting title song "Paris, Texas" on Blind Willie Johnson's "Dark Was the Night (Cold Was the Ground)", which he described as "The most soulful, transcendent piece in all music from the US." His other film work includes Walter Hill's The Long Riders (1980) and Southern Comfort (1981).
In recent years, Cooder has played a role in the increased appreciation of traditional Cuban music, due to his collaboration as producer in the Buena Vista Social Club (1997) recording, which was a worldwide hit. Wim Wenders directed a documentary film of the musicians involved, Buena Vista Social Club (1999) which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000. Cooder worked with Tuvan throat singers for the score to the 1993 film Geronimo: An American Legend.
Cooder's solo work has been an eclectic mix, taking in dust bowl folk, blues, Tex-Mex, soul, gospel, rock, and almost everything else. He has collaborated with many important musicians, including the Rolling Stones, Little Feat, the Chieftains, John Lee Hooker, Gabby Pahinui, and Ali Farka Toure. He formed the Little Village supergroup with Nick Lowe, John Hiatt, and Jim Keltner.
Cooder's 1979 album Bop till You Drop was the first popular music album to be recorded digitally. It yielded his biggest hit, a disco/R&B cover of Elvis Presley's 1960s recording "Little Sister".
FDR in Trinidad
Ry Cooder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(C) - (G) - (Am) Capo on 2
(C) When Roosevelt came to the land of the (G) hummingbird shouts of welcome were (C) heard
Roosevelt came to the land of the (G) hummingbird shouts of welcome were (C) heard
His visit to their (Am) island is bound to be an epoch in (G) local (C) history
Definitely (Am) marking the new e (G) ra, keeping Trinidad in Ameri (C) ca
Friendship for the U.S.A. was shown and from his house to stars and the stripes were flown
For the state to open the gate to the president of these United States
In fact everybody was glad to welcome Roosevelt to Trinidad
We are privileged to see the democratic president of the great republic
With his charming and genial personality and his wonderful urbanity
We were struck by his modest style and we were intrigued by the famous Roosevelt smile
No wonder why everybody was glad to welcome Roosevelt to Trinidad
Now we understand that the president has just been on a visit to Brazil and the Argentine
Mr. Cordell Hull in attendance they took part in a peace conference
To stop war and atrocity and make the world safe for democracy
The greatest event in the century in the interest of suffering humanity
The lyrics of Ry Cooder's song 'FDR in Trinidad' are a homage to the first US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who visited Trinidad, the land of hummingbirds, in 1936. The song highlights the jubilation that Roosevelt's visit caused in the entire population of Trinidad. The people of Trinidad were so excited that they shouted welcomes upon his arrival, and even flew the U.S. flag alongside Trinidad's own flag. The song mentions the hope that Roosevelt's visit would mark the beginning of a new era and strengthen the ties between Trinidad and America.
The lyrics speak about the admiration and affection that the people of Trinidad held for Roosevelt. They mention his charming and genial personality, his wonderful urbanity, and his famous smile, which endeared him to so many. Additionally, the song alludes to the political context of Roosevelt's visit to Trinidad, where he attended a peace conference with Cordell Hull, the secretary of state. The aim of the conference was to stop war and atrocity and make the world safe for democracy. The song calls the conference the "greatest event in the century."
Overall, 'FDR in Trinidad' is a tribute to Roosevelt, who was greatly loved and respected in Trinidad. It reflects the hope that his visit would bring lasting improvement to the political relationship between Trinidad and America, and highlights the significance of his international diplomatic efforts to promote peace and democracy.
Line by Line Meaning
When Roosevelt came to the land of the hummingbird shouts of welcome were heard
When Roosevelt visited Trinidad, the locals welcomed him with great enthusiasm
His visit to their island is bound to be an epoch in local history
His visit marked a significant milestone in Trinidad's history
Definitely marking the new era, keeping Trinidad in America
His visit ensured Trinidad's continued affiliation with America
For this great man jubilation, was evinced by the entire population
Everyone was filled with joy for the arrival of this great man
Friendship for the U.S.A. was shown and from his house to stars and the stripes were flown
The locals expressed their friendship for the U.S.A. by displaying American flags
For the state to open the gate to the president of these United States
The government of Trinidad welcomed the president with open arms
In fact everybody was glad to welcome Roosevelt to Trinidad
Everyone was happy to see Roosevelt in Trinidad
We are privileged to see the democratic president of the great republic
The locals felt honored to meet the democratic president of the U.S.A.
With his charming and genial personality and his wonderful urbanity
Roosevelt impressed the locals with his pleasant demeanor and politeness
We were struck by his modest style and we were intrigued by the famous Roosevelt smile
The locals were impressed by Roosevelt's humble personality and famous smile
No wonder why everybody was glad to welcome Roosevelt to Trinidad
It's no surprise that everyone was happy to receive Roosevelt in Trinidad
Now we understand that the president has just been on a visit to Brazil and the Argentine
The locals learned that Roosevelt had recently visited Brazil and Argentina
Mr. Cordell Hull in attendance they took part in a peace conference
Roosevelt and Cordell Hull attended a peace conference
To stop war and atrocity and make the world safe for democracy
The purpose of the conference was to promote peace and democracy
The greatest event in the century in the interest of suffering humanity
The conference was considered to be the most significant event of the century for promoting the well-being of humanity
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