Strings of Pearl
The Authorized Biography of John Till, the Guitarist Who Rocked Woodstock with Janis Joplin
He never chased the spotlight, but his guitar lit up the stage with Janis Joplin, one of rock’s most iconic voices.
In this authorized biography, the story of John Till (1945–2022) begins in small-town Stratford, Ontario, where a boy with music in his blood grew into a guitarist destined for history. From teenage jam sessions with Richard Manuel (later of the Band) to nights on the road with famed rock-and-roll singer Ronnie Hawkins, Till’s playing carried him straight into the heart of rock’s golden era.
Everything changed when Janis Joplin handpicked him for her band—first the Kozmic Blues Band, then her final, explosive Full Tilt Boogie Band. His guitar powered Joplin's legendary Woodstock performance as well as her  final album, Pearl, forever tying his name to one of the greatest voices of a generation.
Based on numerous interviews conducted over the eight years leading up to Till’s passing, this biography offers a deeply moving and intimate portrait of the gifted guitarist whose distinctive playing helped define and shape Janis Joplin’s unforgettable, enduring musical sound.
The Authorized Biography of John Till, the Guitarist Who Rocked Woodstock with Janis Joplin
He never chased the spotlight, but his guitar lit up the stage with Janis Joplin, one of rock’s most iconic voices.
In this authorized biography, the story of John Till (1945–2022) begins in small-town Stratford, Ontario, where a boy with music in his blood grew into a guitarist destined for history. From teenage jam sessions with Richard Manuel (later of the Band) to nights on the road with famed rock-and-roll singer Ronnie Hawkins, Till’s playing carried him straight into the heart of rock’s golden era.
Everything changed when Janis Joplin handpicked him for her band—first the Kozmic Blues Band, then her final, explosive Full Tilt Boogie Band. His guitar powered Joplin's legendary Woodstock performance as well as her  final album, Pearl, forever tying his name to one of the greatest voices of a generation.
Based on numerous interviews conducted over the eight years leading up to Till’s passing, this biography offers a deeply moving and intimate portrait of the gifted guitarist whose distinctive playing helped define and shape Janis Joplin’s unforgettable, enduring musical sound.
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The Authorized Biography of John Till, the Guitarist Who Rocked Woodstock with Janis Joplin
He never chased the spotlight, but his guitar lit up the stage with Janis Joplin, one of rock’s most iconic voices.
In this authorized biography, the story of John Till (1945–2022) begins in small-town Stratford, Ontario, where a boy with music in his blood grew into a guitarist destined for history. From teenage jam sessions with Richard Manuel (later of the Band) to nights on the road with famed rock-and-roll singer Ronnie Hawkins, Till’s playing carried him straight into the heart of rock’s golden era.
Everything changed when Janis Joplin handpicked him for her band—first the Kozmic Blues Band, then her final, explosive Full Tilt Boogie Band. His guitar powered Joplin's legendary Woodstock performance as well as her  final album, Pearl, forever tying his name to one of the greatest voices of a generation.
Based on numerous interviews conducted over the eight years leading up to Till’s passing, this biography offers a deeply moving and intimate portrait of the gifted guitarist whose distinctive playing helped define and shape Janis Joplin’s unforgettable, enduring musical sound.
