Blues-influenced rock singer-songwriter (1943–1970) known for her distinctive voice and magnetic stage presence. Joplin, who performed both as the lead singer of San Francisco’s Big Brother and The Holding Company and as a solo artist, was found dead at the Landmark Hotel in Hollywood on October 4, 1970, most likely due to an overdose of heroin and whiskey. Mimeographed free-verse poem by fan Ginger Wilson, titled “Sing A Song of Raw Meat: Tough Talking Woman’s Blues,” six pages, 8.5 x 11, signed and inscribed in ballpoint on the first page, “Ginger, beautiful poem, Thanks, Janis Joplin.” The poem begins: “Janis Joplin ... begotten of Tennessee Williams and Southern Comfort, ‘brewed on the banks,’ balled on the banks of Life, in the tradition of Mae West and Black blues singers.... Her accident ward wail, that raw meat voice forced from a raucous resonator, her threat flaunting major and minor musical scales.... Sexual excitement, emotional catharsis flowing jaggedly into some electronic silver wand, a microphone....” The poem, published in the February 1, 1969, issue of Rolling Stone magazine, was originally stored at the magazine’s offices in a file for unsolicited submissions called the “Jim Morrison File.” After deciding to permanently close the file at the end of 1968, the magazine printed two of the most representative poems (of many) from the file, including this one. Accompanied by an original clipping from the magazine which includes the poems as printed. In very good condition, with intersecting folds (associated light soiling), mild toning, wrinkling, and rust stains or small loss to upper left corner of each sheet (loss to signed sheet). The signature is bold and dark. JSA/Roger Epperson (REAL) Auction LOA and RRAuction COA.
