The 1970's

The 1970's are described as a "pivot of change" due to increasing political awareness and political and economic liberation of women. The British 1979 elections resulted in the victory of the Conservative party under Margaret Thatcher, the first and to date only female British Prime Minister.

The early 1970s saw the rise of many diverse forms of popular and rock musical styles, including jazz rock, the latter including artists such as The Carpenters and James Taylor. It also included the rise of such popular, influential rhythm and blues (R&B) and Motown artists as Stevie Wonder, The Temptations and The Jackson 5. Funk, an offshoot of soul music with a greater emphasis on beats, influences from rhythm and blues, jazz, and psychedelic rock, was also very popular. The mid-1970s also saw the rise of disco music, which dominated during the last half of the decade with bands like the Bee Gees, ABBA,The Village People, Boney M, and Donna Summer. In response to this, rock music became increasingly hard-edged with British early metal artists like Led Zepplin and Black Sabbath.

 A major event in music in the early 70's was the deaths of popular rock stars Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrisson, all at the age of 27. Elvis Presley, the best-selling singer of all time, died on August 16, 1977. Bing Crosby, who sold about 50 million records, died October 14, 1977.