On October 4, 1970, Janis Joplin committed her final act of self-destruction. At a time when women in popular music were folk singers (Mary Travers, Joan Baez,) flower children (Cass Elliot and Michelle Phillips,) tightly coiffed and choreographed girl groups (The Supremes, Martha & the Vandellas) or singer-song writers (Carole King and Carly Simon,) a white, female blues singer was a stand-out. A year earlier on the “The Tonight Show” Johnny Carson asked her if she was going to her high school reunion. She smiled and said “Yeah. I’m goin’.” We hope she made it.
Watch her in action at Woodstock.