 The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. This distinguishes them from artists who are only singers, such as Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Sinatra. In the late 1960s, with the rise of new forms of folk music, it became more common for artists to perform their own music, and for that music to be highly intertwined with the personality and viewpoint of the artist. In many places around the world, distinct styles evolved in which a single person became known as much for lyrical content as musical skill. Very often, these movements became part of a major roots revival and sometimes, a political opposition.
Typically, a singer-songwriter will perform solo or with understated accompaniment, accompany him- or herself on an instrument (often guitar), and be equally well-known for the songs they write as for the way they are performed.
See also: Excitable Boy
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