Janis Joplin’s brief music career celebrated with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame talks, concert

Rock Hall events salute Janis Joplin

CLEVELAND — The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is celebrating the brief, electrifying career of Janis Joplin with a week of events building up to a tribute concert.

The hall in Cleveland calls the bluesy singer one of rock’s most passionate and influential artists. Joplin, who rose to fame during San Francisco’s 1967 “Summer of Love,” was 27 when she died of a drug overdose in 1970.

The rock hall and Case Western Reserve University are hosting talks this week by those who knew Joplin, including her siblings, her former road manager, and Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen (YOR’-mah KOW’-kah-nen). Saturday’s tribute show will feature Lucinda Williams, Country Joe McDonald, and songwriter Bob Neuwirth, who penned the Janis Joplin favorite, “Mercedes Benz.”

On the Net:

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum: www.rockhall.com/