Janis Joplin
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Biography
Few rock singers have had the enduring impact of Janis Joplin, whose raucous voice, larger-than-life personality, excessive lifestyle and early death at 27 made her a legend, inspiring generations of fiery, strong-willed female singers. Joplin always saw herself as an outsider, even in her schooldays growing up in Texas, and became a hard-drinking rebel captivated by blues greats like Bessie Smith and Leadbelly. In 1963 she moved to San Francisco, became embroiled in the Haight Ashbury psychedelic scene and teamed up with guitarist Jorma Kaukonen to sing blues. Her uninhibited vocals soon caused a stir and she was recruited as singer with psychedelic band Big Brother And The Holding Company, who released their debut album in 1967 and made a landmark appearance at Monterey Pop Festival. It turned them into one of the hottest bands in America, but Joplin's sensational performances made her the indisputable star of the show. Their second album Cheap Thrills enhanced Joplin's reputation even further - notably her feverish performance on the US Number 1 hit single Piece Of My Heart - and in 1968 she quit to play her own music with backing group, the Kozmic Blues Band and, later, the Full Tilt Boogie Band. She continued to put in blistering live shows, but her heavy drinking and heroin addiction took its toll and, shortly after recording one of her most famous songs, Mercedes Benz, she died of a drug overdose. Ironically it triggered her greatest success with the Kris Kristofferson-written single Me And Bobby McGhee and the posthumous album Pearl.
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Me and Bobby McGee
- Piece Of My Heart by Big Brother & the Holding Company
- Mercedes Benz
- Try (Just A Little Harder)
- Half Moon by The Full Tilt Boogie Band
- Summertime by Big Brother & the Holding Company
- Ball And Chain by Big Brother & the Holding Company
- Kozmic Blues by Kozmic Blues Band
- Combination Of The Two by Big Brother & the Holding Company
- Work Me, Lord
- I Need A Man To Love by Big Brother & the Holding Company
- One Good Man by Kozmic Blues Band
- Catch Me Daddy by Big Brother & the Holding Company
- Intruder by Big Brother & the Holding Company
- Blindman by Big Brother & the Holding Company
- Call On Me by Big Brother & the Holding Company
- Trust Me by The Full Tilt Boogie Band
- Move Over
- Oh, Sweet Mary by Big Brother & the Holding Company
- Little Girl Blue by Kozmic Blues Band
- Get It While You Can
- Maybe by The Full Tilt Boogie Band
- Down On Me by Big Brother & the Holding Company
- Bye, Bye Baby by Big Brother & the Holding Company
