Born on January 19, 1943, Janis Joplin left us in 1970, but continues to lift our spirits and bring us joy through her music. Yes, Janis (“Pearl”) Joplin would have turned 70 today! Ms. Joplin was an inspiration to many — especially women — showing that a female could front a rock band. To me, she was the female equivalent of Jim Morrison — a gifted, charismatic, one-of-a-kind artist that no one before or since has come close to matching.
My favorite Janis Joplin tune is one she penned herself called “Kozmic Blues.” Listen to this brilliant song in a brilliant 1970 performance here.
Joan Jobe Smith named her literary journal Pearl in co-honor of Janis Joplin (the other honoree was Smith’s mother, Margaret — a name that means “Pearl”). Visit Pearl Magazine online at this link. Founded in 1974, Pearl Magazine will celebrate its 50th edition in 2013.
Photo at top: Janis Joplin, New York City, late 1960s — all goodwill and benevolence.
Silver Birch Press 
I second your Happy Birthday comments. There was a time, way back in my misspent youth, when my fondest desire was to be able to attend a Joplin concert, and be close enough to the stage to be able to see her sweat! Ha. I have two favorite songs by her. Take Another Little Piece of My Heart and Bobby Magee. Not too original, but I really loved both of those. And I always got a giggle out of Mercedes Benz, too. I still have my vinyl record of her with Big Brother and the Holding Company, though it has seen better days. It’s not worth anything as a collector’s item, but it takes me back to many happy hours spent dancing on the beach in Fort Lauderdale. (Yep…”Where The Boys Are” was a stomping ground of mine for a long time. Geeesh. I’ve said it it before, an’ I’ll say it again…I’m older than dirt!)
Thanks for a fun trip down Memory Lane.