Johnny's Cash and Charley's Pride - by Peter Cooper (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"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

"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

"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

"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

"I really enjoyed this book. Reading about the Cowboy brought back many great memories." -- John Prine

"Readers will be hard-pressed to find a selection in Cooper's book that lacks humor and humanity..." -- The Bluegrass Situation

"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.