Janis Joplin – The Wild Blues-Screamer
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From Port Arthur, Texas (b. 1943), Joplin exploded onto the San Francisco scene in 1966, fronting Big Brother and the Holding Company with her raw, soul-baring vocal style
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She became known as rock’s preeminent white female blues vocalist, delivering electrifying performances at Monterey and Woodstock—tracks like “Piece of My Heart” and “Me and Bobby McGee” remain legendary
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Despite a tragically short career—dying of a heroin overdose at age 27 in 1970—her powerhouse voice, fearless persona, and “flower child” defiance inspired generations
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Joplin’s legacy lives on in every gritty female performer who wields emotion-bent vocals as a tool of liberation
