Born in Santa Monica, Ca., Ry Cooder, at the age of four had an accident which left him blind in one eye. He became a bit secluded and began playing the guitar. His biggest influences include Blind Willie Johnson, Arthur "Blind" Blake, Joseph Spence and Curtis Mayfield. Cooder has played on several albums from the Rolling Stones, John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton and Duane Eddy. He has one son, Joachim, who has played several percussive instruments on his recent albums and soundtracks.