(sound clip is from Janis on the Dick Cavett Show 18 July 1969)
Janis Lyn Joplin was born in Port Arthur, Texas. High school was an uncomfortable place for her as a teenager in the mid-1950s. Unlike her classmates, her tastes in music gravitated toward the blues and beatniks.
She sang in a local choir and expanded her listening to singers such as Odetta, Billie Holiday and Big Mama Thornton. In fact, years later Janis provided a headstone for Bessie Smith’s grave, who is buried in Philadelphia’s Mount Lawn cemetery.
Mount Lawn Cemetery, Sharon Hill, PA
After a couple of unsuccessful college ventures, visits to California, living in Texas again, going to NYC, and a failed marriage engagement, Janis arrived in San Francisco on June 4, 1966 to audition with Big Brother and the Holding Co. She became part of the band and her first performance with them was six days later at the Avelon Ballroom.
Remembering Janis Lyn Joplin
Big Brother & the Holding Co.
Janis and the band became local favorites and a year later on June 17, 1967 they hit the big time at the Monterey International Pop Festival. When the movie was released in December 1968, it was Janis on the poster.
Here she is at that festival performing Ball and Chain.
And 21 months later at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, she again starred.
Remembering Janis Lyn Joplin
Harvard Stadium
And only a year later, on August 12, 1970, was Janis’s last public performance. It was at Harvard Stadium, Boston with the Full Tilt Boogie Band. (story and photosfrom WBUR site)
Like too many of her time, the drug availability and sycophant fans were too easy to avoid. Perhaps Life seemed better with them. Life, perhaps, had become addicted to them.
On October 4, 1970 Janis Joplin was found dead of a drug overdose at the Landmark Hotel in Los Angeles at the age of 27 by her road manager John Cooke. (NYT obituary)
On January 18, 1960 Running Bear by Johnny Preston became Billboard’s #1 single. But before and after Running Bear…
El Paso
Running Bear was the second of three consecutive #1 songs in which someone died. Preceding Running Bear, Marty Robbins’s El Paso was #1. Grateful Dead fans are familiar with that story:
Out in the West Texas town of El Paso I fell in love with a Mexican girl Nighttime would find me in Rosa’s cantina Music would play and Felina would whirlBlacker than night were the eyes of Felina Wicked and evil while casting a spell My love was deep for this Mexican maiden I was in love but in vain, I could tellOne night a wild young cowboy came in Wild as the West Texas wind Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing With wicked Felina, the girl that I lovedSo in anger I Challenged his right for the love of this maiden Down went his hand for the gun that he wore My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floorJust for a moment I stood there in silence Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there I had but one chance and that was to runOut through the back door of Rosa’s I ran Out where the horses were tied I caught a good one, it looked like it could run Up on its back and away I did rideJust as fast as I Could from the West Texas town of El Paso Out to the badlands of New Mexico
Back in El Paso my life would be worthless Everything’s gone in life; nothing is left It’s been so long since I’ve seen the young maiden My love is stronger than my fear of death
I saddled up and away I did go Riding alone in the dark Maybe tomorrow, a bullet may find me Tonight nothing’s worse than this pain in my heart
And at last here I Am on the hill overlooking El Paso I can see Rosa’s cantina below My love is strong and it pushes me onward Down off the hill to Felina I go
Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys Off to my left ride a dozen or more Shouting and shooting, I can’t let them catch me I have to make it to Rosa’s back door
Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel A deep burning pain in my side Though I am trying to stay in the saddle I’m getting weary, unable to ride
But my love for Felina is strong and I rise where I’ve fallen Though I am weary I can’t stop to rest I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle I feel the bullet go deep in my chest
From out of nowhere Felina has found me Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side Cradled by two loving arms that I’ll die for One little kiss and Felina, goodbye
Johnny Preston Running Bear
Running Bear
For Running Bear, the two young lovers, separated by a river that was too wide, but their love forced them to try to cross and meet.
On the bank of the river
Stood Running Bear, young Indian brave
On the other side of the river
Stood his lovely Indian maid
Little White Dove was her name
Such a lovely sight to see
But their tribes fought with each other
So, their love could never be,
Running Bear loved Little White Dove
With a love big as the sky
Running Bear loved Little White Dove
With a love that couldn’t die
He couldn’t swim the raging river
‘Cause the river was too wide
He couldn’t reach Little White Dove
Waiting on the other side
In the moonlight he could see her
Throwing kisses ‘cross the waves
Her little heart was beating faster
Waiting there for her brave
Running Bear dove in the water
Little White Dove did the same
And they swam out to each other
Through the swirling stream they came
As their hands touched and their lips met
The raging river pulled them down
Now, they’ll always be together
In that happy huntin’ ground
The song has some interesting trivia associated with it besides its part in a consecutive death motif. J. P. Richardson, better known as The Big Bopper, wrote it. Richardson had a hit of his own in 1958 with “Chantilly Lace.” He had died in the famous plane crash on February 3, 1959 in Clear Lake, Iowa, with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
Richardson thought the Romeo & Juliet theme of this song was too serious for him to record. He passed it on to his friend Johnny Preston, who originally was unsure about the song but others eventually persuaded him to cut it.
Richardson had done background vocals along with George Jones.
Follow Up
Preston’s follow-up single, “Cradle of Love,” reached No. 7 on the Billboard chart.
In 1971 Jonathan King took the “Ocka Chunka” backing and added it to the B.J. Thomas hit song “Hooked On A Feeling.”
Teen Angel
Finally, the next #1 will be Mark Dinning’s Teen Angel.
Teen angel, teen angel, teen angel, ooh
That fateful night the car was stalled upon the railroad track
I pulled you out and we were safe, but you went running back
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?
What was it you were looking for that took your life that night?
They said they found my high school ring clutched in your fingers tight
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?
Just sweet sixteen, and now you’re gone
They’ve taken you away
I’ll never kiss your lips again
They buried you today
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?
Teen angel, teen angel, answer me, please
Johnny Preston Running Bear
Actual deaths
Marty Robbins died on December 8, 1982 [NYT obit], Mark Dinning died on March 22, 1986 [NYT obit], and Johnny Preston died on March 4, 2011 [NYT obit].
The Los Angeles Whisky a Go Go opened on January 15, 1964 .
Rock and Roll was gaining main stream momentum. The Beatles were about to arrive with their British invaders in tow. There were few places to regularly hear rock and roll–recorded or live.
The LA Whisky a Go Go was not the first ‘a Go Go, but is now the most famous. Others had opened earlier in Paris (1947), Chicago (1958), and Washington, DC (1966). These first venues were discotheques, that is, they played recorded music.
According to the Whisky a Go Go’s site, The Whisky had to spell its name without the ‘e’ in whiskey because Los Angeles city zoning laws didn’t allow any club to be named after alcohols
Los Angeles Whisky a Go Go
Live music/Caged dancing
Johnny Rivers headlined LA’s Whisky a Go Go opening night with recorded music between sets.
The DJ (the club’s first was Joanie Labine) played records from a suspended booth and Joanie danced there during the songs. Her performance became so popular, that the club soon had other hanging platforms (“cages”) in which dancers performed.
The club quickly became famous for its music (rock ‘n’ roll), dancing (both the go-go dancers and the patrons) and the Hollywood celebrities attracted to the club.
The Whisky played an important role in many musical careers, especially for bands based in southern California. The Byrds, Alice Cooper, Buffalo Springfield, and Love were regulars, and The Doors were the house band for a while.
Los Angeles Whisky a Go Go
Complaints
Despite the popularity of the Whisky (or perhaps because of it popularity) and other Sunset Strip clubs, there were complaints about the noise, the gathering of young people, and traditional rock-phobia. LA officials passed a 10 PM curfew .
On November 12, 1966, fliers were distributed along the Strip inviting people to demonstrate later that day.
The Los Angeles Times reported that as many as 1,000 demonstrators, erupted in protest against the perceived repressive curfew laws.
And though the Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” is typically thought of as an anti-Vietnam War song, it’s a song written about those riots.
While the venue has had it’s ups and downs, the club continues today.
Los Angeles Whisky a Go Go
What's so funny about peace, love, art, and activism?
