The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Piece of its heart
Rock Hall will shine light on Janis Joplin during Women’s History Month program
After giving nearly everything she possibly could, Janis Joplin — who died nearly a century ago at the rock ‘n’ roll age of 27 — continues to inspire others who also discover freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose.
That’s why the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is presenting a Women’s History Month program celebrating the 1995 inductee — known for hits “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Piece of My Heart,” “Mercedes Benz,” “Cry Baby” and “Summertime” — on March 18 at the downtown Cleveland attraction.
“Janis was really was her own person in what ended up being a very short life,” Rock Hall Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs Karen Herman said. “She was a gifted musician, but a lot of people don’t know she produced and collaborated on the music itself.
“That’s what makes her someone to really celebrate for Women’s History Month, too, because she was such a strong force of nature and influenced so many others. Also, we really want to celebrate women in rock, because we don’t have as many women inductees. So we want to tell that story, which is really important.”
The upcoming Rock Hall program features author and two-time Grammy Award-nominee Holly George-Warren discussing her recently released book,
“Janis: Her Life and Music,” as well as Northeast Ohio native Mary Bridget Davies.
The latter is a Tony Award-nominee who portrayed the ‘60s icon in Broadway show “A Night With Janis Joplin.” Davies will end the program with an acoustic performance, which will be followed by a book signing with George Warren.
As far as the aforementioned lack of female Rock Hall inductees, Herman said the subject will be front and center during the program.
“It’s huge,” Herman said. “It’s always been harder for women in that way for their voices to get out in a malecontrolled industry. I think it’s changing, but it’s people like Janis Joplin that really changed the tide.”
Earlier in the day, George-Warren will host a gallery talk at 1 p.m. outside of the San Francisco case in the Rock Hall’s “Cities and Sounds” exhibit. This event is included with a generaladmission ticket.
“Honestly, anyone who has ever admired Janis Joplin in any way and wants to know more about her, this is the place to be,” Herman said. “Holly George Warren knows Janis’ story forwards and backwards and can really bring to life so much of what she went through.
“Also, Holly knows the entire landscape of rock ‘n’ roll — particularly, women in rock ‘n’ roll — so she’s able to synthesize all of that into a really coherent narrative about Janis. I’m really excited about it. It’s a really amazing story she’s going to tell.”