Spring Break
Joplin continues to impact music scene
By: MacKenzie Garfield
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: News
Despite her premature death at age 27 from a heroin and cocaine overdose, singer Janis Joplin made an impact on the history of rock and roll, according to the 100 Tall Texans Exhibit at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
Joplin was selected to be a part of the 100 Tall Texans exhibit at the George Bush Presidential Library Complex, which was designed to "raise public awareness" of legendary and successful Texans and their impact, said Susie Cox, assistant curator at the Bush Library.
Joplin's impact is still being felt. Her impact on the music business paved the way for future female success in the industry, said Valerie Bishop, a junior marketing major and executive of Town Hall's MUSE program.
"She was one of the first females to have a strong role in a band or in music," Bishop said. "Even though her career was really short, she still made a huge impact on not only the music genre but the whole development of music and the American music scene."
Bishop said modern-day females in the music industry have a lot to thank Joplin for.
"It's because of people like her that women are where they are in the music industry today," Bishop said.
Besides being a revolutionary woman, Bishop said her style is also one of the reasons she is so influential.
"She had a very signature voice," Bishop said. "It was a bluesy folk-rock-jazz style."
Joplin, who was born in in Port Arthur, Texas, took some of her Texas roots to California with her.
"I think where you're from always has an impact on your music," Bishop said. "But she was very into the San Francisco music scene."
It is Joplin's signature voice that still draws senior international studies major Jessica Gonzales to her music.
"I love her voice," Gonzales said. "It's not a typical singer voice, because it's really raspy and not really pretty."
Gonzales said she loves listening to Joplin's CDs because of her sound.
"Her CDs still sounds like it's a live show instead of now when music is processed and sounds almost too processed," Gonzales said. "With her you can feel the music with the pianos and guitars all jumbled up." Gonzales said she also has sentimental ties to Joplin's music.
Joplin was selected to be a part of the 100 Tall Texans exhibit at the George Bush Presidential Library Complex, which was designed to "raise public awareness" of legendary and successful Texans and their impact, said Susie Cox, assistant curator at the Bush Library.
Joplin's impact is still being felt. Her impact on the music business paved the way for future female success in the industry, said Valerie Bishop, a junior marketing major and executive of Town Hall's MUSE program.
"She was one of the first females to have a strong role in a band or in music," Bishop said. "Even though her career was really short, she still made a huge impact on not only the music genre but the whole development of music and the American music scene."
Bishop said modern-day females in the music industry have a lot to thank Joplin for.
"It's because of people like her that women are where they are in the music industry today," Bishop said.
Besides being a revolutionary woman, Bishop said her style is also one of the reasons she is so influential.
"She had a very signature voice," Bishop said. "It was a bluesy folk-rock-jazz style."
Joplin, who was born in in Port Arthur, Texas, took some of her Texas roots to California with her.
"I think where you're from always has an impact on your music," Bishop said. "But she was very into the San Francisco music scene."
It is Joplin's signature voice that still draws senior international studies major Jessica Gonzales to her music.
"I love her voice," Gonzales said. "It's not a typical singer voice, because it's really raspy and not really pretty."
Gonzales said she loves listening to Joplin's CDs because of her sound.
"Her CDs still sounds like it's a live show instead of now when music is processed and sounds almost too processed," Gonzales said. "With her you can feel the music with the pianos and guitars all jumbled up." Gonzales said she also has sentimental ties to Joplin's music.
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