[Dixielandjazz] Janis Joplin and Bessie Smith

[Mike]

   One story that I have always cherished hearing about Janis Joplin was 
her devotion to Bessie Smith her idol. About two months before her 
death, Janis bought a headstone for Bessie Smith. I have always thought 
that was was a very kind act of devotion to Bessie on Janis' part. The 
sad thing about it was that Bessie Smith was a bit of a bigot. She 
didn't like whites or even light skinned blacks. Who knows, maybe that 
would have changed Bessie.

Mike