Janis Joplin Informative Speech

When thinking about women singers in the sixties one name constantly pops up in my head, Janis Joplin. Nothing is more unique then the raw raspy voice of Janis Joplin. Though her rise and eventual unexpected death was short her voice and words live on through her countless songs.

Janis Joplin was born January 19, 1943 in Por Arthur, Texas. Growing up she had a loving family as well as two younger siblings. According to Wikipedia Janis’ mother said, “that Janis always needed more attention than their other children, with her mother stating, "She was unhappy and unsatisfied without [receiving a lot of attention]. The normal rapport wasn't adequate." (Wikipedia.org) Janis and her family avidly attended church, which lead to Joplin eventually joining into the church choir. Joining the choir allowed Joplin to sing more often and in front of people.

After graduating high school Joplin attended two separate colleges but never

finished her degree. When she was attending University of Texas at Austin The Daily Texan had a little profile done about Joplin which said, “She goes barefooted when she feels like it, wears Levi's to class because they're more comfortable, and carries her Autoharp with her everywhere she goes so that in case she gets the urge to break into song it will be handy. Her name is Janis Joplin." (Wikipedia.org)
Joplin obviously grew up in a home where she was free to be whom she wanted to be. When Joplin was unhappy with living in Texas she moved to San Francisco in 1963. While in San Francisco Joplin was introduced to many drugs as well as alcohol, which she wasn’t accustomed to while living in Texas.
Joplin did start off with some solo tracks herself but, eventually was asked to join in on lead vocals to Big Brother & The Holding Company. This was more of a psychedelic rock band but her blues style fit in perfectly with the trippy sound.
Janis got a lot of recognition playing with Big Brother & The Holding Company. “Janis started preforming with bands like Big Brother and the Holding Company playing in “Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, as well as in Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia, the Psychedelic Supermarket in Boston, Massachusetts, and the Golden Bear Club in Huntington Beach, California.” (Wikipedia.org)
Joplin started her solo career in 1966.

During this time period she was heavily using drugs such as speed and heroin as well as drinking constantly. According to Oxford Music Online, “Her stardom rested solely on her singing style, rather than on her abilities as a songwriter or guitar player like most of her male counterparts in the late 1960s. She clearly modeled her style after blues and rhythm and blues singers such as Bessie Smith and Otis Redding, unlike the more folk-influenced vocal approach favored by other popular white female singers of the era.”(Oxfordmusiconline.com)

Joplin had the opportunity to play with such musical artists as Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Joe Cocker at Woodstock in 1969 just before her death. Joplin died on October 4, 1970 due to an overdose of Heroin. She was only twenty-seven years old.

Now that I have explained a little background on Joplin’s career as a singer, which I think is very important to understand who she is, I will continue to explain why she was so influential to her

time.
Janis was at her prime in the beginning of the sixties where drugs and rock and roll were becoming popular, especially in the San Francisco area. During this time period in the sixties the Vietnam War was continuing on, the Cuban Missile Crisis began and the Civil Rights Act was on it’s way to being passed. This time in the sixties was huge in not only the development of the United States as a country but also when it comes to music.
Joplin sang songs with political meaning. She starts off her song Mercedes Benz before she starts singing by stating, “I would like to do a song of great social and political import.” Joplin wanted to sing songs that she was passionate about. Joplin was completely unique to her specific genre, which can be categorized as blues-rock. She was a woman which made her totally unique compared to the men counterparts that were huge during that time period. Starting off with Big Brother and the Holding Company I think had a huge impact on her solo career.
During this time period a lot of music, especially Joplin’s electric guitars, acoustic guitars, drums and a microphone were all that were needed to preform. Live shows backs then were, well, live shows; no one knew what was going to happen. Some were amazing others; Janis was so drunk upon going on stage that she couldn’t sing perfectly. She didn’t use synthesizers when it came to altering her voice. Most of the songs she recorded she did in one take. The raw feel was the popular sound.
It is sad to know that this great musical artist could still be alive today if not for the heavy drug use during the sixties. Joplin, dying at twenty-seven, is considered apart of the “27 Club.” In this club includes music legends such as Jim Morrison from The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones from The Rolling Stones and Alan Wilson from Canned Heat. This were all musicians who had their talents taken away too soon at the age of twenty-seven, but continue to live on today.
Even though Janis Joplin is dead her legacy continues and her voice lives on. Her peaceful protest songs of the sixties and original sound allowed her to open the doors for so many female musicians after her. Even though her musical career was short she will always be remembered.