Today is the sad anniversary of the death of who passed away at the all-too-young age of 27 on this date in 1970. The booming-voiced blues singer became one of the early breakout stars of San Francisco’s psychedelic scene thanks in part to her “star is born” performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. While Joplin was best known for her powerhouse live performances, she also showed off her quick wit and sense of humor as well as her vulnerable side during a handful of television appearances on The Dick Cavett Show.
Cavett’s prime-time show famously featured a who’s who of rock stars that both performed and sat for loose, freeform conversations, which brought the ethos of the hippie generation to the homes of millions. Joplin and Cavett’s relationship dated back to July 1968 when she made her national television debut alongside Big Brother & The Holding Company on ABC’s This Morning. The pair would go on to build a comfortable rapport with each other over the course of Joplin’s three visits to The Dick Cavett Show.
Joplin’s final TV appearance came on August 3, 1970, roughly a month and a half after she had famously talked about going to her ten-year high school reunion. Joplin and her recently formed band Full Tilt Boogie performed a pair of then-new tracks — “My Baby” and “Half Moon” — which would both be featured on her posthumously released final album Pearl. The Port Arthur, Texas native also sat for one last interview with Cavett. During their chat, Cavett and Joplin discussed a wide range of topics from Dick learning how to water ski to music festivals to her upcoming performance at the Festival For Peace at New York City’s Shea Stadium. Joplin also talked about her preference for riding in the front seat of her new custom limousine and asking for a case of purple sunglasses to be sent to her because she kept losing them. Watch Joplin’s final appearance on The Dick Cavett Show below:
