Janis Lyn Joplin was an iconic American singer and songwriter who was a widely-known rock performer of her era. She was recognized for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and “electric” stage presence. She is still one of the most acclaimed artists of the early 1970s and is an influential figure in music and culture.
Janis rose to prominence as the lead singer of the trippy rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company in the late 1960s and had a successful solo career. Unfortunately for Jnais Joplkin, she passed away on October 4, 1970. This article uncovers more about Janis Jopllin’s death, age, profession, net worth, early life, and more.
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Biography (Early Life and Education)
On January 19, 1943, in Port Arthur, Texas, United States, Dorothy Bonita East and Seth Ward Joplin welcomed Janis Lyn Joplin into the world. Janis was born into the world under the Capricorn zodiac sign. Janis was of American nationality and white ethnicity.
Her mother, Dorothy Bonita East, was a registrar at a business college, and her father, Seth Ward Joplin, was an engineer at Texaco. She had two siblings, Laura and Michael. Joplin and his siblings were raised in the Christian faith, attending the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination. Janis gained weight as a youngster and suffered from acne, which left her with deep scars that required dermabrasion.
She noted that her lack of bigoted ideas contributed to her ostracization at school, as the area of Texas she grew up in was highly conservative at the time. Janis was an outcast as a child but linked with other children who liked blues music. In 1960, she graduated from high school and enrolled at Lamar State College of Technology in Beaumont, Texas. Janis transferred to the University of Texas at Austin (UT) in 1962 during the summer.

Quick Wiki/Bio
Name | Janis Lyn Joplin |
Gender | Female |
Date of Birth | January 19, 1943 |
Place of Birth | Port Arthur, Texas, United States |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
High School | Unknown |
University | Lamar State College of Technology University of Texas |
Credentials | Unknown |
Career
Janis Joplin gained notoriety in 1967 after performing as the lead vocalist of the then-known San Francisco experimental rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company at the Monterey Pop Festival. She left Big Brother after two albums to pursue a solo career with her backup bands, first the Kozmic Blues Band and subsequently the Full Tilt Boogie Band.
She participated in the 1969 Festival Express rail journey and the Woodstock Festival. Five of Joplin’s singles made it to the US Billboard Hot 100, including a rendition of “Me and Bobby McGee” by Kris Kristofferson, which became number one in March 1971 after the singer’s death. Some of her most well-known covers are of songs like “Cry Baby,” “Down on Me,” “Piece of My Heart,” “Ball and Chain,” “Summertime,” and her song “Mercedes Benz,” which was recorded during her last recording session.
Jaspin died in 1970 at the age of 27 after recording three albums. In January 1971, her second solo album, Pearl, was released just over three months after she died. It debuted at the top of the Billboard charts. In 1995, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame posthumously.
In 2004, Rolling Stone rated Jaspin 46th on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and 28th on its list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2008. NPR labeled Joplin “The Queen of Rock” and one of the 50 Great Voices. Jaspin is still among the best-selling musicians in the United States, with 18.5 million albums certified by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Net Worth
How rich was Janis Joplin? The iconic American singer and songwriter Janis Joplin earned much money from the music industry before passing. Janis was worth $250 thousand before she passed away, the same as around $1.7 million today’s dollars.
Joplin is still regarded as one of the most well-known performers from the early 1970s and a significant figure in music and culture. Jaspin was ranked 26th on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2008 and 46th on the magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time in 2004.
Joplin was named “The Queen of Rock” by NPR and one of the 50 Great Voices. With 18.5 million albums certified by the Recording Industry Association of America, Jaspin is one of the best-selling musicians in the United States.

Net Worth | $250 thousand ( equivalent to $1.7 million today’s dollars) |
Salary | N/A |
Profession | Singher and Songwriter |
Personal Life
Was Janin Joplin married or single? Did she have children? Janin Joplin had several relationships. Her significant relationships with men included Peter de Blanc, Country Joe McDonald, David (George) Niehaus, and Kris Kristofferson.
Janis dated Seth Morgan in 1970 until her death and was allegedly engaged. She also had a romantic relationship with Robert Plant (1970), Janis Ian, Peggy Caserta, Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith (1966), and James Gurley (1966). Janis had 23 relationships but failed to yield children from them.
Spouse | N/A |
Children | N/A |
Parents | Dorothy Bonita East and Seth Ward Joplin |
Sblings | Laura and Michael |
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Death
What was the cause of Janis Joplin’s death? On Sunday evening, October 4, 1970, one of Joplin’s closest friends and road manager, John Byrne Cooke, found the lifeless body of Jason Joplin on the floor of her Landmark Motor Hotel room.
During her discovery, alcohol was present in the room. Later, Los Angeles County coroner Thomas Noguchi’s autopsy report revealed that she died from a heroin overdose. Janis died at age 27.

Frequently Asked Questions?
Where was Janis Joplin born?
She was born in Port Arthur, Texas, United States.
Who are the parents of Janis Joplin?
She was born to Dorothy Bonita East and Seth Ward Joplin.
What was Janis Joplin’s zodiac sign?
She was born under the Capricorn zodiac sign.
What was the net worth of Janis Joplin at the of her death?
She was worth $250 thousand.
What was Janis Joplin known for?
She was famous for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and “electric” stage presence.
At what age did Janis Joplin die?
Janis passed away at age 27.
What was the cause of Janis Jplin’s death?
Joplin died of a heroin overdose.