Janis Joplin is our J girl tonight! What an incredible bluesy voice she had - my favorite "Piece of My Heart" is pure JJ - Janis Joplin!!
Miss Joplin was born in Port Authur, Texas on January 19, 1943, attended the Church of Christ and began singing in a local choir and befriended a group of outcasts, one of whom had some albums of African - American Blues artists such as Leadbelly and Bessie Smith. In high school she was overweight and her skin broke out badly. Kids being the little angels that we know them as taunted Janis and called her names such as "pig, " "freak" and "creep" Joplin was quoted as saying. Janis graduated high school in 1960 and then attended Lamar State College of Technology in Beaumont, Texas and later transfered to the University of Texas in Austin where she was one of the proud Longhorns. Even though she did not graduate, the campus newspaper ran a profile of her in 1962 headlined "She dares to be different."
During her last college year, her drug use became more apparent, she was labeled a "speed freak", occasionally used heroin and psychoactive drugs. J anis could also drink with the best of us, a heavy drinker throughout her career; her drink of choice - Southern Comfort. *(Special note) - Southern Comfort was the first alcohol that I consumed enough of that made me sick when at age 16 on my Senior Sneak Trip at Yellowstone National Park. Guess, I was lucky to not have acquired a taste for Southern Comfort.
Miss Janis Joplin was a true pioneer in a male dominated rock music scene of the late 1960s. Stevie Nicks said that after witnessing Joplin perform, "I knew that a little bit of my destiny had changed. I would search to find that connection that I had seen between Janis and her audience. In a blink of an eye she changed my life. " Pretty heavy stuff but true! I can't make all this shit up!
In 1979 I fell in love with Bette Midler portraying Janis Joplin in the film "The Rose", of which Bette earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her outstanding performance. This might have been the 2nd movie I ever cried at. Years later, I would have a dear friend - Brian N., RIP take his own life and at his funeral they played "Wind Beneath My Wings." Each time I hear that lovely song, I think of Brian & of Bette. =)
"Mercedes Benz" and a birthday greeting "Happy Trails" for John Lennon on October 1, 1970. RIP, Lennon's birthday was October 9, and he would later tell Dick Cavett that the birthday greeting and present arrived at his home after her death on October 4, 1970, RIP.
Janis would again have her days of memorial - she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, earned a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. Among the many collectibles in Cleveland, Ohio at the Hall of Fame Museum are Janis's scarf and necklaces and her 1965 Porsche 356 Cabriolet with it's psychedelically-designed painting. Just a week ago, on November 14, 2009 Janis Joplin was honored again at the 14th Annual American Music Masters Series. A tribute concert was given at PlayhouseSquare's State Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio. I hope my great friend, Ms. Patricia B. from Akron was able to attend. She loved Janis and Bette as well.
Well Boys & Girls, Amigos y Amigas, it is Saturday night and I need a cold cerveza called Corona with a lime and I think tonight I'll follow with a shot of Cabo Wabo - thanks Mr. Sammy Hagar . Turn on the tunes, perhaps Alan Jackson - five o'clock somewhere singing with Jimmy Buffett and find my Kenny Chesney "Beer in Mexico". I like to call it "Have another Beer in Mexico.
I'm not even going to push the Tshirts, tee shirts, tshirts tonight! If you want one http://shop.mybadtequila.com/
Saludos,
Uncle Rico
Rico Austin
Author & CEO - MY BAD TEQUILA
"Have a Double Shot of Reality"