1645. JANIS JOPLIN (1943-1970) American rock and blues singer who incorporated the styles of Bessie Smith and Billy Holliday to create a brand of electrified blues with Big Brother and the Holding Company, shocking the music world at the Monterey Pop Festival with their harrowingly emotional rendition of "Ball and Chain". Died of a heroin overdose in 1970 on tour with her later solo act. Excessively rare fine content A.L.S. "J" with holograph transmittal envelope signed "Miss Janis Lyn Joplin", 5pp. 8vo., [Port Arthur, Texas, Sep. 9, 1965] to her lover, Peter De Blanc in New York. This fine letter was penned just months before Joplin's career took off. At this time, she was living at home with her parents, hoping to rebuild her life and recover from her drug abuse of the previous few years. During that time she sang in small venues in New York and San Francisco, where she first met De Blanc. Shortly after this letter was written, Joplin moved to Austin and then to San Francisco where she joined Big Brother & the Holding Company. In a very legible, clear hand, she writes in part: "... It's funny, but I can't help feeling that we really have rotten luck - you & I...I've been plagued by various menaces down here...We can't possibly be defeated. I love you baby. Ain't nothing going to change...I went & sang last night at that place in Beaumont. It was really nice...I might work there this weekend...the big news is that I may sing a few ballads & back myself. I've gotten quite a bit better on the guitar & can actually do an adequate job of playing now. I've been learning some new ballads...But it scares me much more than blues. I guess it can all be explained in terms of defense mechanisms & vulnerability. But I really don't want to go into it...we have to learn to be strong by ourselves - not w/friends to help us..." Two pieces, the letter is fine, the envelope was opened at top just clipping the top of the "L" in "Lyn", otherwise very good. $2,500-3,000