Janis Joplin was born in Port Arthur, Texas on January 19,1943 to Seth and Dorothy Joplin. During Janis' early years, she tried to fit in, but was destined to be an outsider. She was not popular, and students ridiculed her. Janis became a rulebreaker, an antagonist, and she had a lot of energy. These qualities would occassionally get her in trouble. Janis felt the need to escape the ridicule, and soon left for San Francisco.
Janis began a singing career in San Francisco. Here was a place where she could be herself. No one disliked Janis and everything that was "wrong" in Port Arthur was welcome here. The fast-paced environment also gave Janis the opprotunity to sample the drugs that were readily available.
Speed eventually took over her life. She lost weight, and became like a vegetable. This is when her friends decided it was time she went back to Port Arthur. In the summer of 1965 Janis returned home. She tried to "fit in", but to Port Arthur she was still an outsider. Janis was depressed much of the time she spent in Port Arthur but she tried to "fit in." In the midst of all this Janis began to sing again. Singing was her only salvation.
Janis left Texas again for San Francisco. Here she got an audition for the spot as the new female singer for the bay area band, Big Brother and Holding Company. The audition went well and she joined up with the band. She arrived just when things were beginning at the corners of Haight and Ashbury. This area was home to some very energetic, and creative music, and also home to a vibrant drug scene.
After playing the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, Big Brother and Holding Company caught the eye of Columbia Records, and soon signed with them. They also signed with New York Manager Albert Grossman, who also represented Bob Dylan. Everything was looking up for the girl from Port Arthur; Her band was recording and performing and Janis was no longer an outcast. Changes were being made to Janis' life at an incredible pace. She had trouble coping with all the success.
At the beginning of August in 1968, Cheap Thrills was released. The success that this album garnered gave Big Brother and Holding Company worldwide acceptance. It also made them a major player in rock and roll.
At this time Janis decided to leave Big Brother and Holding Company to start her own band. She put the Kosmic Blues Band together with some members of her former band in December of 1968. Alcohol and drugs were now a regular part of Janis' life. Soon she was addicted to heroin. It seemed that the drug helped her cope with her fear of fame.
In April of 1970 Kosmic Blues Band evolved into the Full-Tilt Boogie. Janis was working on her Heroin habit, and the band sounded great. Janis now saw herself as a honky-tonk woman. Because of this, as well as some encouragement from friends, she took a new name, Pearl.
In the fall of 1970, Janis' spirits rose to what seemed an all-time high. She met Seth Morgan at the end of August and fell in love. Janis even called City Hall to enquire about a marriage license. She was recording an album in Los Angeles that would be named Pearl. In the middle of September Janis took up Heroin again, though many people did not know.
On October 03, 1970 Janis went to see her dealer and scored a fresh supply of heroin. She then went to the studio to work on her album, then out for some drinks with friends. Janis got back to her hotel room around midnight and decided to shoot up. Janis then went down to the front desk of her hotel to buy a pack of cigarettes. It was the last time she was to be seen alive. Janis Joplin was found dead the next evening by members of her band. The cause of death was a heroin overdose.
Janis was cremated and the ashes were scattered along the coastline of California near her adopted home of San Francisco.
