What's this? This is an unbiased just-the-facts news timeline ('newsline') about Janis Joplin, created by Newslines contributors. Become a contributor

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin8 posts

Janis Joplin was an American singer and songwriter born in 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas. She first gained prominence as the lead singer of the rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company. Her biggest solo hits include Maybe, Ball n Chain, Kozmic Blues, Work Me, Lord, Cry Baby, Piece of My Heart, Down on Me, and Summertime. In 2004,Rolling Stone rated her as the 28th greatest singer of all time. In 1995, she was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Joplin died from a heroin overdose in 1970.

Latest News view > Click for Biography view
1966

Joins Big Brother & The Holding Company

Joins Band0 Comments

big broAfter hearing from Chet Helms that a band in San Francisco, Big Brother & The Holding Company, is looking for a lead singer, Joplin goes for an audition. Sam Andrew, a member of the band, remembers how they were impressed with her voice and starts to do gigs with her. She also learns to adjust her voice with the band and develops the singing style she is known for. Andrews:

At first, she had a coffeehouse kind of voice – real big and wide and open, like an acoustic instrument almost. As she got to play with us, she learned how to be an electric singer. We played so loud that she had to compete, so that’s when she started screaming. But she was always very musical.