Janis Joplin is one of the first -- if not the first -- female artists to break the "girl singer" mold which pretty much existed in both folk and pop music of the 60's.Janis had a great way of fusing blues and rock with her talent that influenced many artists,  both male and female.

It was The Monterrey Pop Festival in 1967 where she got her big break performing with Big Brother and the Holding Company. In 1969, she performed at Woodstock and all was looking good as she approached the height of her success until 1970 when she died of a drug/alcohol overdose.

Her first album, 'Big Brother and The Holding Company' covered the waterfront of musical  styles of music with psychedelic, hard rock and blues.

Her specialty was a singer-songwriter with her best known song titled, "Piece of My Heart."

Including Big Brother and The Holding Company, Kozmic Blues Band and Full Tilt Boogie, her discography includes four studio albums and two 'Live' albums.

She influenced many female artists including Stevie Nicks, Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart), Chrissie Hynde and Joan Jett.

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Here's Janis Joplin in a live performance of her song "Piece Of My Heart".

 

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