The explosive storm from the 60s rock
Janis Joplin was born in 1943 and died in 1970. Was an American singer-songwriter who sang rock, soul and blues music.
She was one of the most successful and widely known rock stars of her era, and was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and "electric" stage presence.
That voice – high, husky, earthy, explosive – remains among the most distinctive and galvanizing in pop history. But Janis Joplin didn’t merely possess a great instrument; she threw herself into every syllable, testifying from the very core of her being.
She claimed the blues, soul, gospel, country and rock with unquestionable authority and verve, fearlessly inhabiting psychedelic guitar jams, back-porch roots and everything in between.
Her volcanic performances left audiences stunned and speechless, while her sexual magnetism, world-wise demeanor and flamboyant style shattered every stereotype about female artists – and essentially invented the “rock mama” paradigm.
In 1967, Joplin rose to fame following an appearance at Monterey Pop Festival, where she was the lead singer of the then little-known San Francisco psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company.
Her adoption of a wild sartorial style – with granny glasses, frizzed-out hair and extravagant attire that winked, hippie-style, at the burlesque era – further spiked her burgeoning reputation.
After releasing two albums she left the band to continue as a solo artist with her own backing groups, first the Kozmic Blues Band and then, the Full Tilt Boogie Band.
Five singles by Joplin reached the Billboard Hot 100, including a cover of the song "Me and Bobby McGee" which reached number one in March 1971. Her most popular songs include her cover versions of "Piece of My Heart", "Cry Baby", "Down on Me", "Ball and Chain", "Summertime"; and her original song "Mercedes Benz", her final recording.
Joplin was among the greatest, most powerful singers the form had ever known – and she’d opened the door for countless artists across the musical spectrum.
