Ry Cooder established himself as anything but ordinary. His eclectic and colorful mix of music styles helped to put him on the charts and introduced him as an artist serious about his career in the industry. The particular genres that Cooder injected into his notorious style were blues, reggae, Tex-Mex, jazz, country, folk, gospel and rock and roll, just to name a few. His appreciation for all types of music was greatly reflected in his work throughout the years, which started when Cooder was just 16 years old.Cooder got his start in the music industry by joining a blues band along with Jackie DeShannon and subsequently went on to form the short-lived Rising Sons in 1965. Cooder emerged as an expert guitarist and gained much attention from both fans and critics for his strumming skills. His work has appeared on the work of notable bands like The Rolling Stones, Little Feat and Gordon Lightfoot, among others. Cooder made his solo debut in the music industry in 1970 with his self-titled album that featured songs by Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie and Blind Willie Johnson. It was a masterful success, and he followed up that effort with records that included Into the Purple Valley, Boomer's Story and Paradise and Lunch. The latter album is still considered to be representative of Cooder's best work. It showcased his blending of many different genres including Hawaiian, gospel and soul music.1979 saw the release of Bop Till You Drop, which was his first major label album, and it set the stage for his future releases. Cooder focused on his work for many films like Blue Collar, The Long Riders and The Border, transcending industries and becoming a popular name in the entertainment world. In more recent years, he has teamed up with artists like John Hiatt, Keltner and Nick Lowe, all of whom set out to release an album, which fared well among fans. Cooder also took an interest in world music and excelled in that genre as well.