The Resume

(September 1, 1925-June 15, 1982)
Born in Gardena, California
Alto saxophonist
Albums include 'The Early Show' (1952), 'Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section' (1957), 'Art Pepper + Eleven' (1959), 'Gettin' Together' (1960), 'Intensity' (1960), 'Living Legend' (1975), 'Among Friends' (1978), 'Art Pepper Today' (1978) and 'One September Afternoon' (1980)
Subject of the documentary 'Art Pepper: Notes from a Jazz Survivor' (1981)

Why he might be annoying:

He released several albums with titles punning on his first name. ('Artworks,' 'Modern Art,' etc.)
His career was repeatedly interrupted by stints in jail caused by his heroin addiction.
He committed robberies to support his drug habit. (But never armed robbery -- because the other criminals he worked with thought he was too unstable to trust with a gun.)
After he suffered a stroke, his wife visited him in the hospital and found him snorting cocaine with the explanation, 'I want to be high when I die.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He came from a broken home with an alcoholic teen mother and an absent seaman father.
He was considered second only to Charlie Parker among alto sax players.
Bandleader Marty Paich said, 'He gave his all, all the time. I never heard him lay back at any time.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 33]
• I Abused Amphetamines
• I Abused Cocaine
• I Abused Heroin
• I Checked into Rehab
• I Covered 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'
• I Died in 1982 (Ranked: 56)
• I Had a Stroke [Cerebral Vascular Accident]
• I Married in 1974
• I Sampled ‘Besame Mucho’
• I'm Buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery [Calif]
• Imprisoned at San Quentin
• Jazz Artists
• Joy of Sax(ophone)
• Look at My Album Cover
• New Musical Express' Top Albums [1980] (Ranked: 35)
• Profiles 30251-30500 (Ranked: 30436)

Year In Review:

In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 76.92% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying