“She showed me the air and taught me how to fill it. She’s the reason I started singing, really.” -Janis Joplin In honor of Black History Month, we celebrate Bessie Smith, one of Janis Joplin’s greatest musical influences. To Janis, Bessie was more than just an inspiration—she felt a deep connection, even believing she was Bessie Smith reincarnated. Janis admired the magic in Bessie’s music and tried to capture that same spirit in her own work. Press play on the JANIS’ INFLUENCE playlist here: h