Author(s): Art Pepper; Gary Giddins (Introduction by); Laurie Pepper

Jazz

Art Pepper was described as the greatest alto-saxophonist of the post-Charlie Parker generation.

Straight Life, originally narrated on tape to his wife Laurie, is an explosive work chronicling his work amidst a life dealing with alcoholism, heroin addiction, armed robberies and imprisonment.  The result is an autobiography like no other, a masterpiece of the spoken word, shaped into a genuine work of literature.