Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin had more heart, more voice and more passion than many other female artists. That voice – high, husky, earthy, explosive – remains among the most distinctive and galvanizing in pop history. But Janis Joplin didn’t merely possess a great instrument; she threw herself into every syllable, testifying from the very core of her being (see https://janisjoplin.com/about).

She was a feminist. She believed in women and showcased female passion as well as female foibles. She reached in to grab every listener by the throat to drag them along on the bluesy, soulful trips she took into women’s souls. She was powerful in a time when few women were.