Influences
From her tender years, Janis was captivated by a colorful ensemble of remarkable musicians. Long before she harbored dreams of gracing the stage as a professional singer, young Janis was utterly entranced by the soulful strains of the blues. Her musical palate was shaped by the likes of the indomitable Bessie Smith, the poignant Odetta, the fiery Big Mama Thornton, the melancholic Billie Holiday, and the legendary folk and blues maestro, Leadbelly.
As her melodic journey evolved, she found inspiration in the soulful voices of her contemporaries, the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin, the king of soul, Otis Redding, and the dynamic Tina Turner. The highlight of her career was in 1969, when she shared the stage with Turner at the iconic Madison Square Garden, a moment that was etched in her memory and marked a significant milestone in her musical voyage.