Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. David Chiu is a freelance music writer based in New York. (L-R) Michael McDonald and Christopher Cross from 'Yacht Rock: A ...

As with most irritants in life, I blame Lionel Richie. Of course, I am talking about the soft-rock genre of music labeled as Yacht Rock. The rhyming phrase started as a joke made by comedians on a web ...

Bentley understands the appeal of yacht rock – and what sticks in Fagen’s craw about the term. The intricate, jazz-influenced arrangements, sardonic lyrics and non-conformity set Steely Dan and some ...

Vandross longed for the same acclaim and freedom awarded to his white contemporaries in yacht rock. Photo: David Corio/Redferns/Getty Images Popular music of the ’70s and ’80s mixed and matched parts ...

If you’ve ever plumbed the placid seas of yacht rock — that distinct style of jazz-influenced soft pop and rock that surfaced in Southern California in the late Seventies — you know it’s filled with ...

Yacht rock isn’t about flaunting a fancy boat. With shades and smooth tunes, yacht rock is about owning an attitude. “It’s more about the vibe than it is owning a yacht,” said Phillip Daniel, frontman ...