Janis Lyn Joplin born January 19, 1943, was a singer and musician from the United States. She was one of the most successful and well-known rock stars of her era, with powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and an “electric” stage presence.
In 1967, Joplin rose to prominence after performing as the lead vocalist of the then-unknown San Francisco psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company at the Monterey Pop Festival.
She departed Big Brother after two albums to pursue a solo career with her own backing bands, first the Kozmic Blues Band and subsequently the Full Tilt Boogie Band. She performed at Woodstock and on the Festival Express rail tour.
Joplin has five Billboard Hot 100 songs, including a rendition of Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” which peaked at number one in March 1971.
Her most popular songs are covers of “Piece of My Heart,” “Cry Baby,” “Down on Me,” “Ball and Chain,” “Summertime,” and “Mercedes Benz,” her final recording.
What was Janis Joplin cause of death?
Joplin died of a heroin overdose at the age of 27 in 1970, after releasing three albums (two with Big Brother and the Holding Company and one solo album).
Pearl, her second solo album, was released in January 1971, just over three months after she died. It debuted at the top of the Billboard charts.
In 1995, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame posthumously.
