The Female Voice of Rock and Roll
Born on January 19, 1943, Janis Joplin was a unique presence in the music world in the 1960s, mainly because she was a female voice in a world dominated by male figures. The most successful female rock star of her time despite having a very short career, Joplin rose to fame in 1967 as the lead singer of the rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company, before embarking on a solo career.
Photo of Janis Joplin (Photo by Paul Ryan/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
A mezzo-soprano that was highly respected by critics and public alike, Joplin’s most famous songs include “ Me and Bobby McGee , ” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971, as well as “ Cry Baby ,” “ Piece of My Heart ,” “ Ball and Chain ,” and “ Mercedes Benz .” A heroin overdose at the age of 27 ended her career abruptly. Joplin had only released three albums, and a fourth one, “ Pearl ,” was released posthumously. Included by the Rolling Stone magazine on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time at number 46, she is still one of the top-selling musicians in the United States.