Janis Joplin - Singer

She blew open the door for women in rock with a voice that could shred and plead in the same breath - then died at 27, three months before her biggest hit went to number one.

Musicians Singer / Musician Singer-Songwriter Classical Music United States Americas 20th Century

A life in dates

2026The anniversary of their death, on 4 October.4 October 20262013Star on Hollywood Walk of FameAward2005Grammy Lifetime Achievement AwardAward1995Rock and Roll Hall of FameAward1970Died4 October 19701969“Dawn has come at last, Twenty-five years, honey just in one night, oh yeah.”In their words"Kozmic Blues", co-written with Gabriel MeklerRead the whole statement

“Aww, but it don't make no difference, baby, no, no, And I know that I could always try.”In their words"Kozmic Blues", co-written with Gabriel MeklerRead the whole statement

“Oh! But it don't make no difference, babe, hey, And I know that I could always try.”In their words"Kozmic Blues", co-written with Gabriel MeklerRead the whole statement

“Honey, I love to go to parties, And I like to have a good time, But if it gets too pale after a while Honey and I start looking to find One good man.”In their words"One Good Man"Read the whole statement

“An’ I don’t want much outa life, I never wanted a mansion in the south. I just-a want to find someone sincere Who’d treat me like he talks, One good man.”In their words"One Good Man"Read the whole statement

I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!AlbumMore about this, 19691968“To sing blues, you've got to be able to, ... be willing to, feel things.”In their wordsPop Chronicles: Show 52 - The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit. [Part 8], interview recorded 1968 July 13.Read the whole statement

1967

Big Brother & The Holding CompanyAlbumMore about this1943Born19 January 1943

Photos 8

Janis Joplin 1970

Mug shot of Janis Joplin from the Tampa, Florida Police Department, 1969 - crop

Mug shot of Janis Joplin from the Tampa, Florida Police Department, 1969

Helix, v.4, no.4, Aug. 15, 1968 - DPLA - ed4ee91948fc8a79b182fdeb295370d3 (page 19)

Helix, v.4, no.7, Sep. 12, 1968 - DPLA - feeee1d59fc70ba359e15965679dafbf (page 15)

Hendrix, Joplin and Morrison - The Atlanta Constitution (1977) (HendrixAgeFix)

Hendrix, Joplin and Morrison - The Atlanta Constitution (1977)

In Berkeley tile - Janis Joplin arrested

In their own words 10

Janis Joplin

10 statements, newest first

Time keeps movin' on, Friends they turn away.
1969, "Kozmic Blues", co-written with Gabriel Mekler, Own words
Dawn has come at last, Twenty-five years, honey just in one night, oh yeah.
1969, "Kozmic Blues", co-written with Gabriel Mekler, Own words
Aww, but it don't make no difference, baby, no, no, And I know that I could always try.
1969, "Kozmic Blues", co-written with Gabriel Mekler, Own words

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On YouTube

479K subscribers

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Albums 6

THThe Legendary Typewriter Tape 6/25/64 Jorma's House2022

TJThis Is Janis Joplin1995

BCBig Brother & The Holding Company1967

JSJanis Joplin im Soundcheck

Awards

Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame2013

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award2005

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame1995

Family

Mother Dorothy Bonita Joplin

Janis Joplin

Sibling Laura Joplin

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About this person

Joplin broke through at the 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival as the front woman for Big Brother and the Holding Company, a little-known San Francisco psychedelic band. After two albums she struck out solo, fronting first the Kozmic Blues Band and then the Full Tilt Boogie Band, playing Woodstock in 1969 and tearing through the Festival Express tour. Her mezzo-soprano could wring out "Piece of My Heart" and "Cry Baby" until they bled, and five of her singles cracked the Billboard Hot 100. She died of a heroin overdose in October 1970, at 27. Three months later her second solo album, Pearl, hit number one; in March 1971 her cover of "Me and Bobby McGee" did the same. She became the first woman inducted solo into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, and as of 2025 her RIAA certifications stood at 18.5 million albums sold.

Country

United States