Janis Lyn Joplin was born in Port
Arthur, Texas, on January 19,
1943.
Her childhood was somewhat
"normal" but her adolescent years
were traumatic. She was made fun
of because of her weight and her
serious case of acne. She began to
drink her troubles away.
In 1963, after being voted "Ugliest
Man On Campus" by a fraternity,
Janis decided to hitchhike to San
Francisco with Chet Helms. Janis
spent the next 2 years of her life
sing soul-full blues to the early beat
scene. Janis had also had an
addiction to speed.
One day in 1965, Janis was so
strung out that her friends held a
collection to buy her a bus ticket
home so she could straighten herself
up.
Janis' stay in Port Arthur was very
short for in June of 1966, Janis
hitchhiked back to San Francisco at
the request of Chet Helms. He
knew of and already established
rock band looking fo a female
singer.
It was with Big Brother that Janis
reached her fame in San Francisco.
Janis left Big Brother at the end of
1968, to start a solo career.

Janis immediately formed a band
called The Kosmic Blues Band.
They toured around the U.S. and
Europe. Thery recorded and album
in the fall of 1969.
Kosmic Blues was short-lived; in
early 1970 Janis dissolved it.

Janis formed her last band in April
of 1970. They were called Full-Tilt
Boogie.
Full-Tilt toured for a few months
before going to LA to record and
album.
Full-Tilt began recording "Pearl" in
the summer of 1970.

On October 4, 1970, Janis was late
for a recording session. She was
found dead in her hotel room from
an overdose of heroin complicated
by alcohol.

May the spirit of Janis live on in our hearts.