Soft Rock gained massive commercial popularity in the 1970s as a gentle alternative to heavy rock-and-roll bands like Cream, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin. With simple melodies, recognizable lyrics, and sometimes dreamy orchestral arrangements, Soft Rock quickly became the preference of mainstream and middle-aged listeners. Also, as many of the heavier rock-and-roll artists began to age, their sounds began to soften. Who could have imaged that Cream guitarist Eric Clapton's mega-hit "Tears in Heaven" today would be played on Soft Rock stations everywhere? Key Artists: Air Supply, The Carpenters, Chicago, Phil Collins, Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, Kenny Logins, and Barry Manilow.
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