Art Pepper

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About Art Pepper

Born in California in 1925, Art Pepper became one of the most skilled and respected alto saxophonists in jazz history. He served stints in big bands led by Benny Carter and Stan Kenton before being drafted into the Army in 1943. Following his discharge he returned to Los Angeles, cutting albums for Savoy, Contemporary, and other imprints. Although Pepper was frequently considered a cool-jazz figure, his aesthetic was rooted in New York bebop. He was at home in both settings and recorded on both coasts. Life-long problems with heroin led to several extended incarcerations, preventing him from achieving sustained success. In the early 1970s, Pepper left rehab for the last time, resulting in his most consistent stream of tours and recordings. His acclaimed 1979 autobiography Straight Life, written with his third wife, Laurie, offered an unflinching look at his struggles with addiction; he died of a stroke in 1982 at age 56.

HOMETOWN
Gardena, CA, United States
BORN
September 1, 1925
GENRE
Jazz

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