Straight Life: Episode One Explicit
"Straight Life" — slang: THE TRUTH! This episode is "explicit" in that sex and abortion are mentioned and it includes violence and dirty words.
Oct 27, 2025 · 08:49
Art Pepper: Straight Life Every Sunday
Art Pepper Every Sunday. Laurie reads the book.
Straight Life is a critical favorite and a cult classic. Praised for its honesty and poetry in the New Yorker, Time, The Village Voice, etc. and by fans everywhere, It's the story of a complicated man who really lived his life. Adventure, comic upsets, tragic losses, madness, passion, crime and punishment, all remembered and recalled in language as unique and powerful as the soulful jazz solos he improvised.
I fell in love with Art's stories as I fell in love with the man. I fancied myself an oral historian and believed Art to be masterful storyteller with a style unlike any I had ever heard, and I became obsessed. I interviewed him for seven years, asking endless questions, researching and verifying details. Writing and rewriting.
Straight Life was originally published by Schirmer/Macmillan in 1979. It's now available from Hachette as both paperback and ebook, I'm an audiobook fanatic and have decided that there needs to be an audio version, and since I own the performance rights, I've been recording "episodes" of 10 to 30 minutes for six years. Occasionally I'll include Art's voice and or his music when they seem apropos to the episode.
Warning: Straight Life is grossly politically incorrect. Art spoke the language of his class, his race, his gender, and his time, so I'm labeling almost every episode "explicit." If you're triggered by dirty words, racism, sexism, suicide, domestic violence, drugs, alcohol, sex or jazz music. this book isn't for you. As for me, I'm now recording readings once a week—as my voice deteriorates—and will continue until I finish or drop dead.
To hear all episodes as they're updated weekly go to RSS.com
or to your regular podcast app. and look for Art Pepper: Straight Life Every Sunday
or to your regular podcast app. and look for Art Pepper: Straight Life Every Sunday
Podcast Episodes Samples
Season 1
Straight Life: Episode 2 Explicit
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.
Oct 29, 2025 · 16:27
Straight Life: Episode 3 Explicit
As 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 here.
Oct 30, 2025 · 10:41