Janis Joplin was an American singer and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company in the late 1960s. Known for her powerful and emotive voice, Joplin quickly became one of the most popular and influential female rock stars of her time.

Born in Port Arthur, Texas in 1943, Joplin grew up listening to blues and folk music and was influenced by artists such as Bessie Smith, Lead Belly, and Odetta. She began singing in local coffeehouses and bars in the early 1960s, and eventually moved to San Francisco, where she joined Big Brother and the Holding Company in 1966.

With Joplin as their lead singer, Big Brother and the Holding Company released their first album in 1967, which included the hit songs "Down on Me" and "Piece of My Heart." Joplin's powerful voice and energetic stage presence quickly made her a popular performer, and she soon became a symbol of the counterculture movement.

After leaving Big Brother and the Holding Company in 1968, Joplin embarked on a solo career and released several successful albums, including "Cheap Thrills," which featured the hit song "Summertime." However, Joplin struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, and died of an overdose in 1970 at the age of 27.

Despite her short career, Joplin's influence on rock music and on female performers in particular continues to be felt to this day. She was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, and her music and legacy continue to inspire new generations of musicians and fans.

Born Janis Lyn Joplin, January 19, 1943, Port Arthur, Texas; died October 4, 1970, Hollywood, California. -GSH

• "I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!" (1969)
• "Pearl" (1971) - Singles: "Me and Bobby McGee", "Mercedes Benz"
• "In Concert" (1972)
• "Live at Woodstock - August 1969" (1999)

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Compilations:
1. "Greatest Hits" (1973)
2. "Janis soundtrack" (1974)
3. "Anthology" (1980)
4. "Farewell Song" (1982)
5. "Janis" (3-CD box set) (1993)
6. "18 Essential Songs" (1995)
7. "Cheap Thrills / I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! / Pearl" (3-CD box set) (1996)
8. "Box of Pearls: The Janis Joplin Collection" (5-CD box set) (1999)
   
9. "The Essential Janis Joplin" (2-CDs) (2003)
10. "The Collection" (3-CD box set) (2004)
    
11. "The Very Best of Janis Joplin" (2007)
    

• OfficialJanis.com - The Official Janis Joplin Website
• Janis Joplin - Kozmic Blues