Things You Didn’t Know About Janis Joplin
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The Texas native lead a brief, turbulent life.
While Janis Joplin isn’t one of my favorite singers, she was undeniably talented. She also led an interesting/turbulent life. Her music was a reflection of that life.
Going into researching for this piece, I knew Joplin primarily for “Me and Bobby McGee” and sadly, for being a member of the “27 Club.” That’s the club whose members were immensely talented and who died at the age of 27. There is a lot more to her story than that. And here we go.
1: In 1995 Janis was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Does anybody else think it’s ironic that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland? It seems like putting a beer museum in Salt Lake City.
2: Janis was raised in Port Arthur Texas and wasn’t popular in high school.
Former NFL coach, Jimmy Johnson went to the same high school and teased her mercilessly. No doubt that helped springboard him to a coaching career in the NFL.
3: Joplin spent one semester in college but dropped out after being named, “The Ugliest Man on Campus” by some Texas fraternities.
It’s nice to see fraternity boys are so much more advanced than high school kids.
4: Janis’ biggest hit was “Me and Bobby McGee.” It made it to number one on the Billboard charts in 1971, which was a year after her death.
It’s really hard to enjoy success that way.
5: Joplin’s friends gave her the nickname, ‘Pearl.”
That was because of her great moves on the basketball court. Wait, being told I’m thinking about Earl ‘The Pearl” Monroe. Totally my bad.
6: Janis earned a third-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate.
But she still was unable to kick her destructive behaviors. Okay, sorry about that. That’s the last…
