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Arthur Edward Pepper, Jr. (September 1, 1925–June 15, 1982) was an American jazz alto saxophonist. He began his musical career in the 1940s playing with Benny Carter and Stan Kenton. In the 1950s Pepper became one of the leading lights of West coast jazz, along with Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Shelly Manne, and others.

His well-written autobiography Straight Life (1980)(transcribed by his third wife Laurie Pepper), is a unique exploration into the jazz world and drug and criminal subcultures of mid-twentieth century California.

There was a previous blog on Art Pepper HERE...

Thanks Art. We do miss you.

John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (6 March 1923 - 15 June 1968) was an African American jazz guitarist. A double jointed thumb with a "corn" or a callus made a sound quite unique in the jazz world. His music was dominated also by his techinque of playing improvisational lines in octaves. Thanks Wes. We miss you.