Paris, Texas (1984), music by Ry Cooder

0:00 Paris, Texas 2:52 No Safety Zone 4:48 Dark Was the Night Paris, Texas is a 1984 drama road film directed by Wim Wenders, co-written by Sam Shepard and L. M. Kit Carson, and produced by Don Guest. It stars Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, Dean Stockwell, Aurore Clément, and Hunter Carson.

In the film, disheveled recluse Travis Henderson (Stanton) reunites with his brother Walt (Stockwell) and son Hunter (Carson). Travis and Hunter embark on a trip through the American Southwest to track down Travis's missing wife, Jane (Kinski). Directed by Wim Wenders Written by Sam Shepard Adaptation by L. M. Kit Carson Produced by Don Guest

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Ry Cooder is a celebrated American musician, songwriter, and record producer whose profound influence as a guitarist and musical archaeologist has shaped the sound of roots, blues, and world music for over half a century. He is perhaps best known for his masterful slide guitar playing, his rich catalog of film scores, and his pivotal role in producing the Grammy-winning, global phenomenon Buena Vista Social Club.

• Musical Archaeologist: Passionately revives and reinterprets traditional American roots music—blues, gospel, country, jazz, and Tex-Mex—for new audiences, alongside collaborations with global musicians.
• Acclaimed Composer: Creator of evocative, atmospheric film scores for directors like Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas) and Walter Hill (The Long Riders).
• Prolific Collaborator: An in-demand session musician who has worked with a stunning array of artists, from The Rolling Stones and Captain Beefheart to Eric Clapton, Neil Young, and Ali Farka Touré.
• Award Winner: A six-time Grammy Award winner, receiving accolades for Best World Music Album, Best Pop Instrumental Album, and Best Tropical Latin Performance for the Buena Vista Social Club.
• Virtuoso Musician: A multi-instrumentalist best known for his unparalleled slide guitar work. He began playing at age three and is consistently ranked among the greatest guitarists of all time.

The Musical Archaeologist

Much more than a performer, Ry Cooder is a musical archaeologist. His solo career, starting with his 1970 self-titled album, is a deep exploration of American roots music. He didn't just play these traditional styles; he reimagined them, focusing on tone, texture, and rhythm to uncover the emotion in every song. His early albums like Into the Purple Valley (1972), Paradise and Lunch (1974), and Chicken Skin Music (1976) are considered classics of the genre.

Master of the Film Score

While his solo albums built a devoted following, Cooder's work in film brought his signature sound to a global audience. His slide guitar created vast, emotional landscapes for some of cinema's most memorable moments. His most celebrated scores include:

• Paris, Texas (1984): His moody, reverberating score for Wim Wenders' film is widely considered a masterpiece and a perfect marriage of sound and image.
• The Long Riders (1980): A key collaboration with director Walter Hill.
• Southern Comfort (1981), Streets of Fire (1984), Crossroads (1986), and Last Man Standing (1996) are among his other notable scores.

Global Collaborator & the Buena Vista Social Club

Cooder's genius for cross-cultural collaboration is a defining feature of his career. He has worked with Indian guitarist V.M. Bhatt, Malian bluesman Ali Farka Touré, and Irish folk band The Chieftains.

However, his most famous project remains the Buena Vista Social Club. In 1996, Cooder traveled to Havana, Cuba, and brought together a group of largely forgotten legendary Cuban musicians. The 1997 album he produced became an unexpected international bestseller, reviving the careers of artists like Ibrahim Ferrer and Compay Segundo and sparking a worldwide interest in Cuban music. The project was also captured in an Academy Award-nominated documentary by Wim Wenders.

You can explore his music further on his official website, RyCooder.com.