Gulf Coast Hall of Fame Show
Port Arthur, Texas

When: January 19, 2008

Where: Carl Parker Multipurpose Center at 1800 Lakeshore Drive, on the campus of Lamar State College.

Forming one-third of The Golden Triangle with Beaumont and Orange, the Gulf Coast region has been fertile ground for a musical melange of golden voices over the years. The area gave the world the booming voice of The Big Bopper, who brought the southeast Texas town of Sabine Pass to the world's attention during the early days of rock 'n' roll when "Chantilly Lace" hit the airwaves, and the twang of Panola County-born Tex Ritter, who painted lyrical portraits of the Old West in such cowboy classics as "High Noon," "The Wayward Wind" and "Back in the Saddle Again." Perhaps no other performer is more closely connected to the Port Arthur area, however, than the free spirit whose soul-searching anthems helped to define a generation-- Janis Joplin.

Initiated in 1987 as a tribute to Port Arthur's "Pearl," the annual Janis Joplin Birthday Bash has transformed into an all-encompassing event, celebrating a potpourri of performers who have risen to the top in their chosen musical genres, ranging from big band to zydeco.

Housed inside the Carl Parker Multipurpose Center at Lamar State University, music lovers can relive musical moments in history as "Another Piece of My Heart," "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Mercedes Benz," along with hits from other Texas tunesmiths during an evening topped with an induction ceremony.

For more information:
• visit www.museumofthegulfcoast.org