Michael Joplin | Janis Joplin's Brother on Family, Fame & 50 Years of Grief | Ep. 8

In this episode of the Miss O'Dell Show, Chris O'Dell sits down with Michael Joplin — younger brother of Janis Joplin — for a rare, personal conversation about what it was actually like to grow up with one of rock and roll's most enduring voices, and what it has meant to carry her legacy for more than five decades. In this episode: Growing up in Port Arthur, Texas in a family that played Bach together on recorders, held dinner table debates, and encouraged independence — the roots of who Janis became Janis standing up against racial inequality in South Texas in high school, years before the civil rights movement reached the mainstream The 60th anniversary of Janis joining Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Chet Helms' role in building the San Francisco scene through the Avalon Ballroom The Monterey Pop Festival as Janis's coming out party — including the untold story of why the famous filmed performance was actually the second take of the same set, performed the following day The writing of Mercedes Benz — composed on a napkin during a 40-minute break with Bob Neuwirth, performed once live, and never recorded in a studio Being 17 years old and home alone when Janis died, answering the phone to Walter Cronkite Why Janis is still drawing audiences from age 17 to 82, across Brazil, Japan, and everywhere in between The Broadway musical, the West End production, and the touring show currently running — visit janisjoplin.com for dates About Michael Joplin Michael Joplin has co-managed the Janis Joplin estate with his sister Laura since their parents' deaths. He serves as a guardian of her legacy rather than a music industry figure — approving projects, protecting her name, and showing up, as he puts it, out of a sense of duty and love. About Chris O'Dell Chris O'Dell arrived in London at age 20 in 1968 and landed at the center of rock history, working at Apple Corps for The Beatles before becoming one of the first women to tour manage major acts — including Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Rolling Stones, Queen, and Led Zeppelin. George Harrison immortalized her in the 1973 song Miss O'Dell; Leon Russell wrote both Pisces Apple Lady and Hummingbird about her. She is the author of the 2009 memoir Miss O'Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Women They Loved, and hosts the podcast Miss O'Dell: Abbey Road to Tulsa Time. Follow Miss O'Dell: Website: https://missodell.com Podcast: / missodell About The Church Studio The Church Studio is a historic recording studio that was built in 1915 as Grace M.E. Church. It came to life in 1972 when Leon Russell, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Award-winning artist, purchased the old church and turned it into an analog recording studio and home office to Shelter Records. Teresa Knox, a Leon Russell fan and Tulsa native, purchased The Church Studio and has brought it back to life as a professional analog and digital recording studio, event center, audio engineering school, entertainment network, and home to The Church Studio Archive. Follow The Church Studio: Facebook: / thechurchstudio Instagram: / thechurchstudio Twitter: / thechurchstudio Website: https://thechurchstudio.com YouTube channel: / thechurchstudio #missodell #chrisodell #janisjoplin #michaeljoplin #bigbrotherandtheholdingcompany #rockandroll #montereypop #mercedesbenz #albertgrossman #bobneuwirth #rockhistory #27club #missodellshow #thechurchstudio #tulsasound