Part one of this two-part course will closely examine the beginnings of the singer/songwriter movement, demonstrating how country artists such as Hank Williams, Sr. set the template for confessional lyric writing.  Bob Dylan transformed folk music by shifting from protest to the personal, with albums such as Bringing It All Back Home (1965) exploring themes concerning heartbreak and turmoil.  Early artists such as Taylor, Laura Nyro, and Leonard Cohen forged the sound, which would become a dominant force in the 1970s.

Join music historians Ken Womack & Kit O’Toole as they revisit classic record albums. With Classic for a Reason, Ken & Kit will take listeners on a guided tour of our history’s most enduring popular musical accomplishments.

Through multimedia presentations and discussions, the class explores the major artists of the era, such as Taylor, Cat Stevens, Billy Joel, Jim Croce, Paul Simon, and Gordon Lightfoot.  Another topic will study the growth of female artists, with singer/songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Carole King, and Janis Ian achieving even greater success—and creative control—for women in music.  While the genre may have peaked in the 1970s, it continued to influence popular music in the 1980s and beyond; the veterans still produced fascinating songs, and artists such as Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Dan Fogelberg, and Tracy Chapman updated the format for younger generations.  Part two traces the peak of the movement and its lingering influence.