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Houston Matters

How Texas Shaped Janis Joplin And Her Music

Holly George-Warren offers an unprecedented look at the rock icon in her new biography.

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Janis Joplin
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Rock icon Janis Joplin grew up in Port Arthur, Texas.

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Janis: Her Life and Music BookThe music of Janis Joplin is perhaps associated more often with places like San Francisco or maybe Woodstock than it is southeast Texas.

But that's where the late rock icon grew up, specifically Port Arthur.

However, as writer Holly George-Warren outlines in her new biography, Janis: Her Life and Music, Texas shows up in Joplin's music in many ways.

Janis Joplin in High School
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Janis Joplin in the 1960 yearbook for Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Texas.

In fact, she tells Houston Matters producer Michael Hagerty that Houston played a part in her story too. You can hear their full conversation in the audio above.

Holly George-Warren discusses her book tonight at Brazos Bookstore.

Holly George-Warren
Franco Vogt
Music writer Holly George-Warren is the author of Janis: Her Life and Music.
Michael Hagerty

Michael Hagerty

Senior Producer, Houston Matters

Michael Hagerty is the senior producer for Houston Matters. He's spent more than 20 years in public radio and television and dabbled in minor league baseball, spending four seasons as the public address announcer for the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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