Art Pepper discusses his musical integrity and perseverence.

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Art Pepper discusses the influence of his troubled personal life on his music.

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Art Pepper discusses his early days in music.

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Q: “There are times when I think it’s amazing that Art Pepper is still alive. If anybody ever abused their body any more than you did, I don’t know who it would be - but it doesn’t seem to have affected your mind or your music! As I say, if anything, it’s a terrible thing to think that all that abuse has added up to something good; but I really think it has…”

A: “It has, in my case, but I sure wouldn't recommend it for anyone else because, with me, I think when I started playing clarinet when I was 9, at 9 years old, I loved Artie Shaw, and I knew that I was going to be a musician and a jazz musician. And I knew that I was going to be one of the best in the world and there was no question ever in my mind. And that’s as a child. And I knew that it was going to happen. And when I would go to prison, I would say, "Well, I've got five. I can do five or seven or eight or whatever and come out and still be all right."