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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 25 april 2017
Book Review: A parade of originals sings a country tune

SCOTT STROUD write what he knew. The original and the surprising,
Associated Press breakthrough came when from the tonsillectomy
In his new book on country he described a week he that gave Ernest Tubb his
music, in the midst of a had spent behind bars in distinctive singing style
riff about Tom T. Hall’s Paintsville, Kentucky, in to the mysterious death
ascent, Peter Cooper boils the classic, “A Week in a of Hank Williams to the
the Nashville songwriting Country Jail.” heartache that drove
business down to its nuclear It’s one of many eureka George Jones to greatness.
core. “When a songwriter moments in a book that He tells how Kris Kristofferson
signed a publishing deal — reads like a collection of lost connections with his
and this holds true today priceless bar stories. The mother, who disowned him
— his job was to write songs unforgettable characters after he turned his back
that would please the who refused to toe the line on an Oxford education
publisher. And publishers are the ones who interest to pursue his Nashville
are pleased by songs that Cooper, from Johnny Cash dream, and with his first
get played on the radio. It’s and Loretta Lynn to Lee wife. Cooper describes
‘Figure out what’s working, Ann Womack and Taylor Kristofferson stumbling
and then do that.’ Makes Swift. His knack for finding in a stupor down Music
perfect sense, though the formative experiences Row, delaying the surprise
the end of that road is that led them to greatness that he’s about to write
most often frustration and makes these tales come the timeless hangover
burnout for the creators, alive.N A talented singer- classic, “Sunday Mornin’
and for listeners who don’t songwriter himself, Cooper Comin’ Down.” And that
want to spend their day used to write about was before the better-
hearing twenty slightly country for Nashville’s known story, the one in
different replications of the daily newspaper, The which Kristofferson flew a
same tired and silly thing.” Tennessean. In both roles helicopter onto Johnny
Cooper then tells how Hall he has gained the trust of Cash’s lawn to persuade
began to move away from some of Nashville’s most him to listen to a demo This cover image released by Spring House Press shows
formulaic “Little Darlin’” colorful figures. His attention tape, which included that “Johnny’s Cash & Charley’s Pride: Lasting Legends and Untold
songs and began to is drawn routinely to the very song.q Adventures in Country Music” by Peter Cooper.
Associated Press