Janis Joplin: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1995

Rock Hall Bio: 

http://rockhall.com/inductees/janis-joplin/bio/

After graduating high school and developing into something of a rebel, Joplin gravitated toward singing blues and folk music. She was already a heavy drug user when she hit the big time.

In 1966, Joplin joined Big Brother and the Holding Company. They released an album in 1967 and performed at Monterey.

Down on Me (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RMg0anuc04

Monterey Music Festival (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui4c0PKvVMU

Cheap Thrills made her a superstar.

Piece of My Heart (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7JVxE2SYxo

Ball and Chain (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Pk1KjL_pg

She left the band at the end of 1968 to go solo. She formed the Kozmic Blues Band and recorded a new album

To Love Somebody (1969):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkGUt4QYc08

Kozmic Blues (1969):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLN72sR9w0M

Like many major artists, she performed at Woodstock.

Woodstock (1969):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBJnoMP1Uyc

On Dick Cavett:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yybz0TcIgDk&feature=related

She continued to perform and record. Joplin even tried to kick the drug habit, but failed. Janis Joplin died October 4, 1970 from a heroin overdose.

The album, Pearl, was posthumously released.

Me and Bobby McGee (1971):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXV_QjenbDw

Mercedes Benz (1971):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tGuJ34062s