It was a time of social uncertainty, political disjointedness, and polarization on any important subject. Some musicians took this as an initiative to get vocal, mostly about the war in Vietnam (example: "American Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival). Others, however, went the other direction, penning soft, mellow tracks that allowed people to feel as though everything was going to be okay in spite of all of the social chaos going on around them. While most of these wonderful songs live on to this day, the artists are often not given the credit they are due, making them the unsung heroes and pioneers of the singer/songwriter genre.

This explosion of music began in the canyons of Los Angeles, most famously Laurel Canyon. It came to fame in the late 1960s when Jim Morrison and the Mamas and the Papas made their homes in the Canyon. Slowly, other budding singer/songwriters made their homes there, and the Canyon became a sanctuary for creativity, shaping an era in music that to this day remains legendary.

Carole King was one of several artists that immersed herself in the creativity of Laurel Canyon. She had been writing songs for other artists for many years, but it was not until the late 1960s that she began to record the songs for herself. This manifested in Tapestry, released in 1971 and remaining as rich with poetic songwriting as it was when released. It spawned several hits, including "I Feel the Earth Move," "It's Too Late," and "So Far Away." To date, the album has sold more than 25 million copies and remains one of the signature albums of the decade.

Following close behind was James Taylor, whose career began its ascent after being discovered by Peter Asher, who headed up the Beatles Apple label. "Something in the Way She Moves" and "Carolina in My Mind" both showed early promise and provided a soothing lullaby needed for so many. However, it was the release of the album "Sweet Baby James" in 1970 and the song "Fire and Rain" that catapulted Taylor to success. The track is easily one of the saddest songs ever written, and beautifully expressed the losses that so many felt at the time. "You've Got a Friend," written by Carole King, proved to be yet another song audiences needed, becoming Taylor's first number one single as well as earning him two Grammys. Taylor's success continued well into the decade, both solo and with then-wife, fellow singer/songwriter Carly Simon.

The daughter of a publishing industry mogul, Carly Simon first rose to recognition with her self-titled album in 1971. However, it was a song about a former lover that will forever tie her name to music. Released in 1972, "You're So Vain" was an edgy song that called out, according to her, several men from her past. Speculation has swirled around the song for years, naming both Warren Beatty and Mick Jagger as subjects. Simon confirmed in her 2015 autobiography that the second verse of the song is about Beatty, but two other men inspired the other verses. Simon's songs were always simple and beautiful; "Anticipation" remains as fresh today as ever, and "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" has a sassy groove that remains to this day. The honesty of the emotions in those tracks keeps them from aging a day.

Another artist who reveled in the creativity of Laurel Canyon was Joni Mitchell. Although she had been on the music scene since the early 1960s, Mitchell rose to musical prominence in the early 1970s alongside King, Taylor, and Simon, with her 1971 album "Blue", Mitchell cemented her place in the music world. Using simple arrangements, she broke down the overwhelming sadness she felt at the time, although it is hardly visible in a track like "California." It is often noted that Mitchell is one of the most influential female artists of her time.

The light, airy, mellow sounds of the music created by these and so many other singer/songwriters gave way to what would be defined as the "California sound." It inspired artists such as Linda Ronstadt, the Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac, all who used similar influences in their own music. It faded with the decade, but elements of it are still present in artists such as Adele.

What is sad is that these artists are often looked over in favor of the harder rock bands who dominated the radio at the same time such as the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. While the influence of those artists certainly has its place, so does the incredible artistry of these singer/songwriters who did not have to be loud and brazen in their performances. Their songs were simple and universal yet personal, channeling the deepest human emotions into the words they wrote. Perhaps these artists and so many more will never get the credit they deserve, but the important part is that those beautiful songs will love on, continuing to touch generations more listeners who seek to hear their feelings put to music.