This story in the Chronicle's Sunday Zest magazine on Aug. 23, 1970. Excerpts of the story, as it ran then, follow. Janis Joplin, the celebrated demigoddess of blue-eyed soul, the heiress to the ...

Hunter Gaye inspired several songs by the late Motown singer, including “I Want You,” “Let’s Get it On,” and “After the Dance.” Janis Hunter Gaye, the second wife and occasional muse of famed ...

It's 50 years since Janis Joplin died of an overdose in Los Angeles aged only 27. Her sad death is the one main fact many people know about her - but for true fans she remains the best female rock ...

1. Before she became famous, Janis once walked up to Bob Dylan and told him she was going to be famous one day. He responded, “Yeah, we all gonna be famous.” 2. She wasn’t afraid to admit that she ...

More than 50 years later, the legend of the Monterey Pop Festival (June ’67) is alive and well. Considering the three-day event jumpstarted the careers of Jimi Hendrix (recommended by Paul McCartney), ...

Janis Ian wrote “Some People’s Lives” with songwriter Kye Fleming, inspired by a restaurant owner they were friends with named Mary, who felt that she had not contributed anything to the world. They ...

The countercultural revolution of the 1960s may have been all about sex drugs and rock 'n' roll, but for one young Texas singer it was all about the blues. No one sang the blues quite like Janis ...

Janis Ian circa 1970s (left) and in 2023. Singer-songwriter Janis Ian had a Top 20 hit at age 16 with her 1966 debut single "Society's Child" The song, written from the point of view of a young girl ...

In September 1970, Janis Joplin was optimistic about her future. She neared completion of her latest album, Pearl, and was engaged to Seth Morgan, who reportedly lived off a trust fund from his ...

The "Society's Child" singer-songwriter discusses the life-changing experience in the new documentary 'Janis Ian: Breaking Silence' GAB Archive/Redferns; R. Diamond/Getty Singer-songwriter Janis Ian ...