Singer/Songwriters in the ’70s, Part 2

When James Taylor released Sweet Baby James in 1970, the height of the singer/songwriter movement officially began.  Soon, bare-bones production, highly personal lyrics, and deep introspection would change popular music, creating a format that still exists today.  Who are the major artists of the era, and how did they impact pop music and culture?

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.