Janis was born in a time and a place where everyone looked the same and wanted the same things. After trying to fit in with her peers, she realized that marring her high school sweetheart, who would get a job at the oil refinery in town, and having a few kids was not her destiny. No, Janis Joplin had a destiny that was much bigger than that.
In between causing trouble, or appearing to cause trouble, moving to California and back to Texas, and back to California, Janis discovers that she really wants to sing. Not only is she really good at singing along with her blues singer heroes, she was really good at singing. She would sing at clubs, and encouraged by a friend she was encouraged to audition as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company.
Janis's climb to stardom, and being one of the first female Rock Stars was not easy. Problems with the band, drugs and her own self esteem plagued Janis throughout her tragically short life. People who knew Janis said she thrived on the spotlight, and gave her all every night she performed.
It is easy to see why Janis Joplin Rise Up Singing won the YALSA Award for Excellence in Non-Fiction for Young Adults Award in 2011. This story of Janis and her rise to fame is told with images that help set the stage for the changing world Janis lived in. Interviews with family, friends and fans help tell the story of her rise to fame. Author Ann Angel (a local author) respects and admires Janis, and it shines through in her writing. A timeline of important events in Janis's life as well as a bibliography and index are included, for those readers who want to know more about Janis.
If you are unfamiliar with Janis's music, check out one (or all) of the Cd's that the library owns. You will not be disappointed. For anyone who doesn't feel like they fit in, or with dreams to be a real rock and roll star, don't miss Janis Joplin Rise Up Singing.
I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Now downloading Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits into her iTunes library.)