On January 19, 1943, Anis Lyn Joplin was born in Port Arthur, Texas. Her mother worked as a registrar for a business college, while her father worked as an engineer for Texaco. Her two younger siblings were raised as members of the Church of Christ.
After graduating, she spent a short time at Lamar State University in Beaumont, Texas, but in 1962 she transferred to the University of Texas at Austin. While a student at Austin, she performed live with the folk ensemble Waller Creek Boys.
Joplin recorded her first song, “What Good Can Drinkin’ Do,” in 1962 while still a college student. The following year, she departed Texas in the early morning and headed toward San Francisco while traveling with her friend Chet Helm. She would eventually be unable to finish her degree.
What happened to Janis Joplin?
Joplin’s prediction that her return to drug use would be caused by her career in the music business came true. She was discovered dead after a heroin overdose in her Los Angeles hotel room on October 4th, 1970.
Despite her very brief career, Stevie Nicks, Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, and Miley Cyrus were all affected by her outspoken vulnerability and fusion of psychedelic rock and blues music.
