ON THE ROAD WITH JANIS JOPLIN

As a member of the Charles River Valley Boys--a bluegrass band from Boston who played the folk circuit regularly in the 1960s--John Byrne Cooke toured extensively with many of the legends of that era. His on-the-road experience eventually earned him the job of Janis Joplin's tour manager at precisely the time her career was ascending. It wasn't the easiest task in the world, given Joplin's volatile personality and prodigious intake of drugs and alcohol. Cooke's pleasing voice, while not compelling, is well suited for these ruminative chronicles. They make clear that artists like Joplin were thoroughly devoted to their art and love of music. J.S.H. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2015]