This is a long one, Interviews with Art's stepmother Thelma Pepper, and with Sarah Schecter Bartold, the woman who raised Art's mother, Ida AKA Millie. Thelma talks about Art's grandmother and then about his mother. This is American history, touching and inspiring.

Musical interludes and the music at the end, Art's original, Blues at Twilight, from The Art Pepper Quartet, recorded in 1956 with Russ Freeman, Ben Tucker, Gary Frommer. Available online at http://artpepper.bandcamp.com and from Omnivore Recordings.

At 9, Art starts performing in waterfront bars and gets paid.

He keeps his father from throttling his grandmother.

This episode is "explicit" in that it includes violence, and dirty words.

Author's note: This is one of my favorite episodes.

Music snippets heard here:

Straight Life by Art Pepper: with Smith Dobson, Jim Nichols, Brad Bilhorn. Unreleased Art Pepper Volume VIII, live at the Winery—Widow's Taste/Omnivore Recordings

When You're Smiling: with Roger Kellaway, David Williams, Carl Burnett. Unreleased Art Pepper Volume 2, The Last Concert—Widow's Taste.

That Crazy Blues by Art Pepper: with Frank Strazzeri, Hersh Hamel, Bill Goodwin—Unreleased Art Pepper Volume 4, The Art History Project—Widow's Taste

Listen to more Art Pepper music at http://artpepper.bandcamp.com

And buy Straight Life in paper or kindle on Amazon

In episode 1 Art described his violent parents and leaving them to live with his grandmother.

In episode 2 he talks about his family and begins music lessons.

This episode is "explicit" in that it includes violence, and dirty words

"Straight Life" — slang: THE TRUTH

This episode is "explicit" in that sex and abortion are mentioned and it includes violence, and dirty words