Johnny's Cash and Charley's Pride: Lasting Legends and Untold Adventures in Country Music

Peter Guralnick, dean of rock-and roll-storytellers, writes in the introduction to Johnny's Cash & Charley's Pride, "Peter Cooper has always been in the mix." Whether spending time with Johnny Cash or Kris Kristofferson, playing bass for Loretta Lynn, discussing songwriting with Taylor Swift, or introducing the Grateful Dead's Robert Hunter to Porter Wagoner, Peter Cooper has continually found himself in the presence of music royalty and the recipient of countless intimate conversations, asides, and confidences. In Johnny's Cash & Charley's Pride: Lasting Legends and Untold Adventures in Country Music, Cooper chronicles his many "in the mix" tales since arriving in Nashville in 2000 to cover the country music scene for the Tennessean. Filled with untold stories and newly revealed histories, it is an informal yet well-studied inside view of country music's greatest characters and pivotal moments. Now a senior director at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Cooper's stories are akin to a curated behind-the-scenes tour of country music. ISpanning nineteen chapters, Cooper offers an original take on the formative days at WSM and engaging introductions to an ensemble cast of country music's icons, quirks, and golden-but-hidden personalities. With a gem on every page, Cooper has crafted a perceptive, smiling, and atypical immersion into the world of country music that will keep any music fan engaged with its wit, passion, and authenticity.

Table of Contents:
• Foreword by Peter Guralnick • Introduction • Chapter 1 Beginnings Aside: A Tender Lie • Chapter 2 Innovation Begat Tradition Aside: Bill Monroe Weighs In • Chapter 3 A Memphis Flash, A Nashville Sound Aside: Elvis Plays the Opry • Chapter 4 Kris Kristopherson, The Going Up Aside: A Hairy-Legged Town • Chapter 5 Merle Haggard and David Olney, Wise Men Aside: More Advice • Chapter 6 Storytelling Aside: A Big Sadness • Chapter 7 Some Stuff You Mostly Don’t Hear Aside: Tim Carroll’s Business Plan • Chapter 8 The End of the Line Aside: Ol’ Brother Merle • Chapter 9 A Short Strange Trip with Porter Wagoner Aside: Opry Banter • Chapter 10 Merle Haggard and the Door to Hope Aside: Tommy Collins’ Funnies • Chapter 11 Don Light and the Impossibility of Unscrambling Eggs Aside: From Don Light • Chapter 12 Taylor Swift and the Hybrid Art of Understanding Aside: Shel Silverstein, Hyena Genius • Chapter 13 Jimmy Martin, Hotshot with a Teardrop in his Eye Aside: Bus Ruined Bluegrass • Chapter 14 Loretta Lynn, The Anti-Poet Aside: Loretta and Ernest • Chapter 15 Lloyd Green, and Significant Steel Aside: Lloyd Green and Mike Auldridge • Chapter 16 Requiem for a Short Bitch Aside: The Mayor of East Nashville • Chapter 17 “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash” Irish Bar, Jacksonville, Florida • Chapter 18 George Jones: Walk Through this World with Me • Chapter 19 Which is the Last One, So This Is Really An Afterword

About the Author :
Peter Cooper is an award-winning musician and respected music journalist. He is the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Senior Director, Producer, and Writer, and a senior lecturer in country music at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. He is a Grammy-nominated music producer, and a songwriter whose works have been recorded by John Prine, Bobby Bare, Jim Lauderdale, and others. He has appeared on The Tonight Show and The Late Show with David Letterman and was, along with the like of the Kings of Leon and financial guru Dave Ramsey, named one of Nashville's "10 Most Interesting People" by Nashville Arts & Entertainment magazine. Peter Guralnick has written extensively on American music and musicians. His most recent book, "Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll" , was a New York Times best-seller and a Washington Post Notable Non-Fiction pick for 2015. His other books include the prize-winning Elvis Presley two-part biography "Last Train to Memphis" and "Careless Love"; the acclaimed trilogy on American roots music, "Sweet Soul Music", "Lost Highway" and "Feel Like Going Home"; the biographical inquiry "Searching for Robert Johnson"; the novel "Nighthawk Blues"; and "Dream Boogie", a biography of Sam Cooke. He splits his time between Nashville and Massachusetts. Peter Guralnick has written extensively on American music and musicians. His most recent book, "Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll" , was a New York Times best-seller and a Washington Post Notable Non-Fiction pick for 2015. His other books include the prize-winning Elvis Presley two-part biography "Last Train to Memphis" and "Careless Love"; the acclaimed trilogy on American roots music, "Sweet Soul Music", "Lost Highway" and "Feel Like Going Home"; the biographical inquiry "Searching for Robert Johnson"; the novel "Nighthawk Blues"; and "Dream Boogie", a biography of Sam Cooke. He splits his time between Nashville and Massachusetts.

Review :
“Musician, singer, songwriter, producer, author, professor, and music journalist…Peter Cooper is a modern day renaissance man.” -- Bob Edwards, NPR "Peter Cooper looks at the world with an artist’s eye and a human heart and soul."  -- Kris Kristofferson “All I can say is, ‘(Peter Cooper) is one hell of a writer.’” -- Hank Williams Jr. “After I finished reading, I felt as though I had been to a family reunion, for a family that was totally dysfunctional except for the fact that everyone could be instantly bonded by Mother Maybelle Carter picking the “'Wildwood Flower.' It is a beautifully written book.” – Tom T. Hall, member of the Country Music Hall of Fame “I really enjoyed this book. Reading about the Cowboy brought back many great memories.” --  John Prine “An eminently readable romp…Cooper’s an obvious expert on the unique history of (country) music and (Nashville), but what comes across most strongly is his genuine love for the music. It’s that passion which makes this a delightful and poignant read.” -- American Songwriter magazine “Readers will be hard-pressed to find a selection in Cooper's book that lacks humor and humanity…”  -- The Bluegrass Situation “Like most things that are good, it’s hard to classify the book: it’s a memoir; it’s an encyclopedic record of the Old Testament-esque origins of country music; it’s a behind-the-scenes look at legends struggling with mortality and legacy…They’re all remembered with dignity, sincerity, humor, and heartfelt conviction—with writing that’s tight and clean and erudite and all those other words writers use to describe good writing…I suggest picking up a copy ofJohnny’s Cash and Charley’s Pride. You won’t be disappointed.” – NATIVE magazine “The art of the stories is in the telling, which is where Cooper wins the argument. Arriving at the end of this sparkling collection, few will doubt that writing about music is exactly what Cooper should be doing.” – The Washington Post