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Janis Joplin died forty years ago today from an accidental heroin overdose at the Landmark Motor Hotel in Hollywood.

Joplin was born on January 19, 1943 in Port Arthur, Tx. She sang in the local choir as a teenager, but was also inspired by blues singers such as Bessie Smith and Big Mama Thornton. She moved from Texas to California in 1963 and in 1964 recorded a session with Jorma Kaukonen, who would go on to become the guitarist for Jefferson Airplane. The seven track session, which featured songs such as “Kansas City Blues” and “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out”, was later released on the bootleg album “The Typewriter Tape.”

Janis Joplin & Jorma Kaukonen – “Kansas City Blues”

It was in this period that Janis first had a problem with drugs. Her amphetamine habit and heavy drinking prompted her friends in California to encourage her to return home to Texas, which she did in May 1965. Once back in Texas, Janis enrolled at Lamar University, but didn’t give up her musical ambitions. Janis performed solo in local clubs, backing herself on guitar, and in 1966 came to the attention of the rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company who were from California. Janis joined the group and moved back to California in June 1966.

Big Brother and the Holding Company signed a record deal in August 1966 and also began touring. Their most notable appearance in this period was at the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967, part of which was included in the movie “Monterey Pop.” Two months later the band released their first album titled “Big Brother and the Holding Company.”

Janis Joplin at Monterey Pop – “Ball and Chain”

Janis made her television debut with the band in spring 1968 on The Dick Cavett Show and shortly after their second album, “Cheap Thrills“, was released. The album featured the number one single “Piece of My Heart.”

Janis Joplin – “Piece of My Heart”

A live album followed, “Live at Winterland ’68“, and an East Coast tour, but time was almost up for the band. Janis left in December 1968 and formed the Kozmic Blues Band the following year. Their first album, “I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!“, was recorded in June 1969, during which it was reportedly a big struggle to keep Joplin clean of drugs.

A tour with the new band followed, including an appearance at Woodstock in August 1969, but the band broke up in December 1969 following a gig at Madison Square Garden.

Joplin’s final year did have its highlights. There were successful reunion gigs with Big Brother and The Holding Company in April, and some strong gigs with her new band, The Full Tilt Boogie Band. It was with this band that she would make the recordings that featured on the posthumous release “Pearl“, including the hit single “Me and Bobby McGee.”

Janis Joplin – “Me and Bobby McGee”

Although Joplin was putting in strong performances in the studio, her drug and alcohol addictions had not been conquered. Her road manager went to find her after she failed to show up for a session on October 4, 1970 and found her dead at the Landmark Motor Hotel where she had been staying since August. The official cause of death was a heroin overdose.

Albums mentioned in this article:

Title
Big Brother and the Holding Company (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Cheap Thrills (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Live at Winterland ’68 (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Pearl (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now