Janis Joplin, who would have been 76 years old on Jan. 19, 2018, was the voice of a generation. Born as Janis Lyn Joplin on Jan. 19, 1943, in Port Arthur, Texas, the world would have to wait until the 1960s to understand the impact her music would make.
Joplin always had a love for music and sang in the church choir when she was a child. When she was six years old, her sister Laura was born. Joplin’s brother Michael was born four years later.
After she graduated high school, Joplin became a student at Lamar State College of Technology. She was a poor student and spent more time partying than studying. At the end of her first semester, she left and enrolled at Port Arthur College where she took secretarial classes. She did not complete her courses at Port Arthur and moved briefly to Los Angeles before returning to Texas.
Joplin enrolled at the University of Texas in 1962 to study art. She began performing at “folksings,” these were casual musical gatherings on campus. Joplin amazed everybody with her sound, and she was unlike any other female singer at that time.
In 1963, she quit school and tried to make it as a singer in San Francisco, but failed. In 1965, she returned home and took a break from the music business, while trying to work a traditional job. In May, 1966, Joplin returned to performing. She was recruited by the psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company as their lead singer. The band consisted of Sam Andrew, Peter Albin, Dave Getz, and James Gurley.
The band was trendy in the San Francisco area, and even had the respect of another up and coming group called Jefferson Starship who would later go onto greatness.
The popularity of Big Brother and the Holding Company earned them a spot at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. The band received fantastic reviews, however, most of the praise was directed at Joplin and her vocal abilities which caused friction within the group.
Columbia Records president Clive Davis was present at Monterey and wanted to sign the band to the label. The group agreed, and later also chose Albert Grossman as their manager. He was known at the time for being the manager of Peter Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan, and The Band.
Big Brother’s first album “Cheap Thrills” was released in 1968 on Columbia Records and received lukewarm reviews from the critics. In spite of that, the album was a huge hit. It was certified gold and went to number 1 on Billboard. The album also sold a million copies and produced the hit single “Piece of My Heart.”
Feeling that the band was holding her back, she decided to leave. Joplin’s last performance with Big Brother and the Holding Company was in Dec. 1969.
Due to Joplin’s success, she was invited to play the now infamous Woodstock Festival in 1969. The performance garnered her further recognition from fans and was considered legendary.
One year after Big Brother and the Holding Company’s break up, she released her first solo album with the Kozmic Blues Band. “I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!” was released in Sept. 1969. The album received mixed reviews, but had two hit singles: “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)” and a cover of the Bee Gees “To Love Somebody. ”
Joplin’s follow up album was her most successful, and also her last. “Pearl” was recorded with the Full Tilt Boogie Band and included the hit written by Kris Kristofferson, “Me and Bobby McGee.” At one time, Kristofferson was her love interest.
Just over a year later, Joplin would die on Oct. 4, 1970, at the age of 27 years old. She died from an accidental heroin overdose. Her posthumous album, “Pearl,” was released in 1971.
Joplin has been nicknamed “the first lady of rock and roll.” In 1992, the book written by her sister “Love Janis,” was released. It was turned into a made for television movie in 2010. A second documentary by Amy Berg, “Janis: Little Girl Blue,” was featured at the Toronto Film Festival in 2015.
Written By Barbara Sobel
Sources:
Huron Daily Tribune: Legendary rock star Janis Joplin would have turned 76 this weekend
Biography: Janis Joplin
Music In Minnesota: Happy Birthday Janis Joplin
Featured and Top Image by Courtesy of ABC Television Wikimedia – Public Domain License
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