Died On This Date (June 15, 1982) Art Pepper / Jazz Sax Great
Art Pepper
September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982
Art Pepper was one of West Coast Jazz’s great saxophone players of the ’40s and ’50s, sharing the stage with the likes of Benny Carter and Stan Kenton, and later, Buddy Rich. Unfortunately, Pepper was addicted to heroin and served approximately twelve years spread over four separate terms throughout the late ’50s and early ’60s, even serving two in San Quentin. No doubt due to these breaks in his career, he was never able to reach the heights he might have. Art Pepper died of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 56.
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