Laurie Pepper

Laurie Pepper was born in 1940 in Los Angeles to a family of radicals and artists. She grew up in New York and Los Angeles, attended U.C. Berkeley, and was photographer for the legendary L.A. Free Press during the 1960s but went astray and wound up in rehab where she met Art Pepper. With Art she wrote the classic jazz biography, "STRAIGHT LIFE", which has been praised in TIME, THE VILLAGE VOICE, THE NEW YORKER, etc. Since Art's death in 1982, she has continued to produce and promote his music. Her very small label, Widow's Taste, has released a new album of previously unreleased Art Pepper performances every year since 2006. She also continues to write. Her follow-up to "STRAIGHT LIFE," is "ART: WHY I STUCK WITH A JUNKIE JAZZMAN," and it's as honest about her life with Art Pepper as she & Art are when describing his life. Her latest memoir "ME AND MY MOTHER (& OTHERS)"—about her childhood with her mother (& others) was released in April, 2024 and is likewise available on Amazon.