thumb|upright=0.72|alt=Ry Cooder playing slide guitar|Ry Cooder using a glass slide in 2009 Ry Cooder was a child music prodigy and at age 15 began working on bottleneck guitar techniques and learned Robert Johnson songs. In 1964, Cooder, along with Taj Mahal, formed the Rising Sons, one of the earliest blues rock bands. His early guitar work appears on Captain Beefheart's debut Safe as Milk album (1967) and several songs on Taj Mahal's self-titled 1968 debut album. Also in 1968, he collaborated with the Rolling Stones on recording sessions, which resulted in Cooder playing slide on "Memo from Turner". The Jagger/Richards song was later included on the soundtrack to the 1970 film Performance; Rolling Stone included it at number 92 on its "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" list. In 1970, he recorded his own self titled debut album, which included the Blind Willie Johnson classic slide instrumental "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" (re-recorded in 1984 for the soundtrack to Paris, Texas). Recognized as a master of slide guitar by 1967, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at number eight on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" in 2003.
thumb|upright=072|alt=ry cooder playing slide guitar|ry cooder using a glass slide in 2009 ry cooder was a child music prodigy and at age 15 began working on bottleneck guitar techniques and learned robert johnson songs in 1964 cooder along with taj mahal formed the rising sons one of the earliest blues rock bands his early guitar work appears on captain beefheart's debut safe as milk album (1967) and several songs on taj mahal's self-titled 1968 debut album also in 1968 he collaborated with the rolling stones on recording sessions which resulted in cooder playing slide on "memo from turner" the jagger/richards song was later included on the soundtrack to the 1970 film performance; rolling stone included it at number 92 on its "100 greatest guitar songs of all time" list in 1970 he recorded his own self titled debut album which included the blind willie johnson classic slide instrumental "dark was the night cold was the ground" (re-recorded in 1984 for the soundtrack to paris texas) recognized as a master of slide guitar by 1967 rolling stone magazine ranked him at number eight on their list of the "100 greatest guitarists of all time" in 2003