Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin is remembered by many as a tragic figure. I love this image of her because you can see her joy. She is completely herself in this moment, lit up from the inside.

I first heard her music in high school. One morning in creative writing class, our teacher stood silently at the front of the room until we quieted down. Then he launched into "Mercedes Benz" at 7:30 a.m., before a room full of bleary-eyed teenagers.

It was a great decision. I can still picture that moment perfectly, almost 30 years later.