Ry Cooder

Ry Cooder, born Ryland Peter Cooder, is an American musical treasure, famous for his slide guitar mastery and his deep dives into global folk and roots music. From blues and Hawaiian slack-key to Tex-Mex and, most famously, Cuban music with the Buena Vista Social Club, Cooder has carved out a unique niche as an ethnomusicologist with an electric guitar. He's even got a Grammy or six to prove it.

Despite his diverse musical explorations, which have taken him to pretty much every corner of the world where a guitar can sing, his heritage remains firmly rooted in the Protestant tradition. No synagogue attendance, no bar mitzvahs, not even a casual mention of a Hanukkah bush in his discography.

While his dedication to preserving and popularizing various cultural sounds is undeniably kvell-worthy, his contributions do not, unfortunately, extend to the annals of Jewish history. His impact on world music is immense, just not, you know, our world music.