As the kaleidoscopic music scene of the late '60s shattered from drugs and disillusionment, a new breed of musician emerged. The singer/songwriter placed the highest premium on integrity. Armed only with an acoustic guitar or a piano these earnest sons and daughters of Dylan made it clear that the Technicolor labyrinth of acid rock was just an illusion. James Taylor and Jackson Browne represented male songwriters who wed social consciousness with personal introspection. The leading women were the jazz-influenced Joni Mitchell and former Brill Building writer Carole King whose Tapestry album still represents a high-water mark of the genre. In their wake came millions of sensitive souls with something to say, including transcendent tunesmiths like Kris Kristofferson, Leonard Cohen, Cat Stevens and Elton John. As the '70s progressed, their painful honesty became a liability and eventually disco, then punk would overshadow the popularity of the singer/songwriter genre. However, the fine pioneers of songcraft left their mark and their influence remains everywhere from modern troubadours like John Mayer and Sondre Lerche to retro divas like Joss Stone and Alicia Keys.

Notable Artists: Joan Armatrading , Loudon Wainwright III , Gordon Lightfoot