During the 1960s, rock n roll splintered into a rainbow of genres - musicians were experimenting. Soft rock began as a blend of the progressive rock quest for musicianship and the songwriter's love of pop. It originated in the late 1960s in Southern California and the United Kingdom. The style relied on simple, melodic songs with big, lush productions. This new genre established bands such as Supertramp, ELO & Barclay James Harvest.