What I want to know is why people who play the guitar or piano, etc. (perhaps brilliantly) and sing (perhaps wonderfully) and write some (not all or even the best) of the songs they record and sing -- why are these people usually called "singer/songwriters?"
Why not "guitarist/singers" or "pianist/singer/songwriters?"

In the 1930's through 50's, many singers or instrumentalists did write some of their own songs, but they were seldom called "songwriters," if they were mainly singers or instrumental musicians.

I still wonder about how this strange label came to be and why it is so often applied to people for whom songwriting is one of their lesser accomplishments.

Genie