HOLLYWOOD, AUGUST 18th: Alleged failure of promoter Leonard Jay to fulfill terms of contract with Fantality Corp. for services of Janis Joplin was cause of singer’s no-show at Minneapolis gig on August 6th, says her attorney. Robert E. Gordon, of law firm of Ball, Hunt, Hart, Brown & Baerwitz. In last week’s story Jay was quoted as saying Miss Joplin “was just doing too many dates and she got too tired.” Story also reported that other Minneapolis sources said singer didn’t want to play the city because she would have to sandwich engagement between appearances in Chicago and New York.
Facts of the matter, according to Gordon are:
“The promoter, Leonard Jay, for Golden State Productions, entered into a number of contracts with Fantality Corp. providing for the services of Janis Joplin at various concert performances. Leonard Jay failed to pay Fantality Corp. the approximate amount of $26,000 for concert performances of Miss Janis Joplin during spring 1970. Litigation is pending with respect to such breaches of contract.
“The contract – specifically concerning the Minneapolis concert on July 31, 1970, required that Jay tender to Fantality no later than July 1, 1970 the sum of $10,000 as an advance payment against compensation guaranteed under such contract. On or about July 28, 1970, counsel for Jay was notified by Robert E. Gordon, counsel for Miss Joplin and Fantality Corp., that Miss Joplin would not play the Minneapolis dates scheduled for July 30, 1970.
“On or about July 30, 1970, Fantality Corp. received a payment of $10,000 from Jay with the request that the performance of Miss Joplin be rescheduled for August 6, 1970.
“On Monday, August 3, 1970, Jay was notified directly by Bennett Glotzer, a management representative of Miss Joplin, that Miss Joplin would not play in Minneapolis on August 6, 1970, or any other time a concert promoted by Mr. Jay.”
The attorney further declared it was not true that the singer cancelled at the last minute or because she “was doing just too many dates and she got tired,” Gordon added. “The fact is that Miss Joplin would have played the date had the promoter lived up to his obligation. Neither the state of her health or stamina nor her other performances had any direct or indirect effect upon her non-appearance in Minneapolis.”
