Janis Joplin Autobiography

Janis Joplin Autobiography

Full Name: Ms. Janis Lyn Joplin
Date of Birth: January 19, 1943
Place of Birth: Port Arthur, Texas, USA
Died: October 4, 1970
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, USA
Classification: Artists & Entertainers

Known as one of the premier in-your-face female blues vocalists of all time, Janis Joplin surprised the nation with her on and off stage antics. Her unforgettable musical style, combined with her careful choosing of songs to perform, made her a national and international sensation. Her last album, released posthumously, which included the song Me and Bobby McGee, displays her true talent to audiences worldwide.

Young Janis had many dreams of being an artist. She loved art and even decided to pursue an advanced degree in it at the University of Texas at Austin. But, the call to California was too much, so she dropped out and began as a vocalist for the group known as Big Brother. The band released an album and performed what many have called one of the greatest performances in history at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.

After leaving Big Brother, which she believed was a great place for her to start her career, but not to remain, she moved on to form her own band dubbed the Kozmic Blues Band, which released I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! that was performed at Woodstock. Following her top-ten hits, Joplin became addicted to alcohol and especially heroin, a habit that she attempted several times in her short career to break.

What many audiences remember about Janis Joplin was her unforgettable stage performance and presence. Her unbelievable display of energy was fed by the attention given to her by her roaring fans. She wanted to prove herself as a young, tough artist willing to push every limit set before her. And, she did to the dismay of many who believed that a young woman should not be a part of the male-dominated world of rock and roll.

The autobiography of Janis Joplin was never published, but her biography was made into a film called The Rose starring Bette Midler and released in 1979. Joplin, at the height of her career, died after recording a song with a band known as Full Tilt. The cause of death was a heroin overdose. Joplin’s songs and albums are still sold and cherished for their brash, direct manner coupled with her amazing vocal capability.