Peter Guralnick dean of rockand rollstorytellers writes in the introduction to Johnnys Cash ampampampamp Charleyampampamp8217s Pride ampampquotPeter Cooper has always been in the mix.ampampquot Whether spending time with Johnny Cash or Kris Kristofferson playing bass for Loretta Lynn discussing songwriting with Taylor Swift or introducing the Grateful Deadampampamp8217s 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 Johnnyampampamp8217s Cash ampampampamp Charleyampampamp8217s Pride Lasting Legends and Untold Adventures in Country Music Cooper chronicles his many ampampamp8220in the mixampampamp8221 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 wellstudied inside view of country musicampampamp8217s greatest characters and pivotal moments. Now a senior director at the Country Music Hall of Fame Cooperampampamp8217s stories are akin to a curated behindthescenes 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 musicampampamp8217s icons quirks and goldenbuthidden personalities.