A New Direction

1968 – Janis Joplin and Sam Andrew

From Big Brother to Kosmic Blues

By: AARP Radio | Source: AARP.org | April 7, 2009

Janis Joplin is no longer around to tell her story. So we got as close as we could to the source and talked with guitar player Sam Andrew.

In 1968, Sam and Janis left Big Brother and the Holding Company to form a new band. Inspired by the artist R. Crumb, they named their duo the Kosmic Blues Band. Listen to Sam tell the story via our Flash Player at left. Then click on the link below to see a slide show of Sam in Marin County, Calif., today.

• Back to 'Music of 1968'—Home
• Sam Andrew—Then and Now
• Louis Armstrong, 'What a Wonderful World'
• Laura Nyro—'Stoned Soul Picnic'—and Judy Kuhn
• Terry Riley 'In C'—Bang on a Can