Janis Lives, a new tribute band with a twist, features Ottawa’s own Powerhouse Blues Mama on vocals - Blue Pearl. This 5 piece band brings you some of the tunes Janis wrote and sang during her brief but unforgettable career, complete with gorgeous 60’s finger-style rock guitar straight out of Big Brother’s bag of licks. In addition, these accomplished musicians play a tasty and entertaining mix of blues styles from Chicago shuffles to Texas rock blues; Bessie Smith’s era; Nova Scotia cajun music; naughty things, swing things, and everything in between. Many decades of playing experience formed the talent in these players. They were there in the 60’s, and they do remember!
Janis Lives offers you Janis’ music - the tunes she did and the ones she’d be doing now - in tribute to Janis Joplin and to express our love of the Blues.
Click on the
photos below to see music backgrounds of the players in Janis Lives, and on Betty
Boop for information on recordings. A schedule of gigs is at the bottom of this
page, as well as links to sites on Janis and other influences on our music.
 Blue Pearl |  Brad Norris |  Mike Jutting |  Mike Lush |  Dan Quinlan |  CD's and Demos |  Shows/ Booking |
| Blue
Pearl (aka Jane Reade), VOCALS!!
In 1968 Pearl witnessed two live concerts that thrilled her to her very toes and taught her what turns a singer into a star and a world-class performer. The first was James Brown and his Famous Flames, and the second, Janis Joplin. It wasn’t till 1989 that Pearl tried out publicly the voice that made her friends gape and still has audiences roar their approval whenever she belts out a tune. Her friend and mentor the late and great Larry Mootham (the Bird) called her a “Born Again Blues Singer” because of her start on the stage so late in life. She’s made up for lost time in the last 15 years, gathering around her some great local players and playing every bar and pub, big and small that would book blues. She’s also traveled to the States and been invited up to sing with some of her music heroes like Bryan Lee of New Orleans, Carry Bell of Chicago, Big Jack Johnson, and Joe Murphy of Halifax. Pearl decided to take Janis' chosen nickname as her stage name because Pearl dedicates all her performance to the greatest Blues performer ever - Janis Joplin. And when you hear our own Pearl, you'll believe it. |
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Compact Discs: Janis
Lives Demo Tunes:
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Pickpockets & Loose Women:
Blue Pearl has produced and released a six song compact disc |
Naughty Bitz CD:
Pearl's Pictures (Click Photo)
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Pearl
fell in love with the Blues when she first heard “black” music at the
age of 12 - listening to her transistor radio under the covers at midnight when
the Motown sounds of Detroit came through. It stirred her soul like nothing else
and she started singing along, but only when no one else was around. 
