. >>> singer janis joplin set rock music on its ear in the late '60s. ort life and stellar career are getting a fresh look with the new bio called janis. anthony mason sat down for a chat with the author. >> do you have an explanation why you're so popular? >> reporter: as a singer, janis joplin also gave everything she had. and in the summer of love, 1967, she became america's first female rock star. ♪ >> she wanted to be like a female elvis presley, i think. >> holly george warren is author of "janis," a new biography of joplin, published by simon & schuster, a division of cbs. she didn't believe in boundaries, did she? >> she did not ever see a boundary that she did not try to jump over or kick down. >> reporter: the first boundary the tomboy from texas crossed was musical. developing an abiding passion for the blues. >> all the stuff that there was something, an honesty there that, like, a peggy lee was lacking. ♪ >> how did a white girl in texas discover the blues? >> it took a lot of gumpton. when she saw elvis on the ed sullivan show do hound dog