Janis Ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of
fifteen, when her soul-wrenching song Society's Child became a hit. An
intimate portrait of an interracial relationship, Society's Child
climbed the charts despite the fact that many radio stations across the
country refused to play it because of its controversial subject matter.
But this was only the beginning of a long and illustrious career. In
this fascinating memoir of her more than forty years in the music
business, Ian chronicles how she did drugs with Jimi Hendrix, went
shopping for Grammy clothes with Janis Joplin, and sang with Mel Tormé
all the while never ceasing to create unforgettable music.
In 1975, Ian's legendary At Seventeen earned two Grammy awards and
five nominations. Her next two albums brought her worldwide platinum
hits. But after seven albums in as many years, she made a conscious
decision to walk away from the often grueling music business. During
this period, she struggled through a difficult marriage that ended with
her then husband's attempt to destroy her, and a sudden illness that
very nearly cost her her life. The hiatus from music lasted for close to
a decade until, in 1993, Ian returned with the release of the
Grammy-nominated Breaking Silence. Now, as she moves gracefully into
her fifth decade as a recording artist and writer, Ian continues to draw
large audiences around the globe.
In Society's Child, Janis Ian provides a relentlessly honest account
of the successes and failures?and the hopes and dreams?of an
extraordinary life.
