The 111 Greatest Acts of the Anglo-American Folk Music Tradition

keywords: folk music, folk musician, folk musicians, folksongs, folksong, folk songs, folk artists, folksinger, folk singer, folk singers, folksingers, folk guitarist, folk guitarists
The 111 Greatest Acts of the Anglo-American
Folk Music Tradition,
or, more specifically (!):

"A Combined Current/Retrospective Ranked List of Those Folk Acts
from Here and Other Countries Who Have Most Contributed (and/or Are
Most Contributing) to This Folk Music Tradition in the United States"

version 2

by Charles H. Smith, Ph.D.

I have seen several lists of this type posted on the Internet by well-meaning but sometimes agenda-driven individuals, so I thought I would take a shot at this myself, consulting some hard data along the way. I have a long and continuing interest in folk music going back to the early 1960s, when my older sister started buying Peter, Paul & Mary albums. I now purchase related material for the library collection at the University where I work (see notes here, including further youtube.com links), and have recently opened a website featuring the lyrics of the fondly remembered topical and children's songs writer, Malvina Reynolds. I also maintain a site called "The Classical Music Navigator", and have a lot of experience in statistical analysis. (See my homepage for contact and other information.)

Please read THESE NOTES before proceeding to the list, at the possible risk of assuming a number of things about this compilation that were not intended!

Following below is the ranked list of 111--with a few "honorable mentions" to add up to an even 150 thrown in at the end. In the main list, the artist's name is linked to, first: (1) a leading website concerned with them (in red) and (2) their Wikipedia entry (in purple); then two pieces of information in parentheses: (3) f.r.: "folkie rating" (on scale of 1 [least] to 5 [most], my subjective rating of how "folky" the artist is), and (4) y(es)/n(o) (has or doesn't have individual entry in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians); then, as appropriate, (5) some representative compositions or recordings by the artist (in blue) and (6) related youtube.com and myspace.com files (in green); and finally, (7) a rough list of the artist's main genres, indexed by the following asterisk-with-two-letter coding (in orange) that can be used to search across artists by plugging the codes into your browser's "Edit > Find" function:

*ac alt-country *af alt-folk *bl blues *ce Celtic *cf contemporary folk *ff folk revival/traditional folk *fj folk-jazz fusion *fp folk-pop
*fr folk-rock *mi master instrumentalists *mv master vocalists *na New Age *pf folk-punk *ss singer-songwriter *tf topical/political folk

* Special Note for Librarians *

* * * *

1. Woody Guthrie (1912-1967) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; y). Woody represents the point at which the "folk tradition" in music (which we had had for many years before him) became dominantly transmitted through songs associated with particular individuals: 'Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad,' 'This Land is Your Land,' 'Pastures of Plenty,' 'I Ain't Got No Home,' 'So Long It's Been Good to Know Ya,' 'Tom Joad,' 'Deportee,' 'Union Maid,' Dust Bowl Ballads youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ff *ss *tf

2. Bob Dylan (1941-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; y). Dylan followed Guthrie's lead but marched a step further: into a literary realm in which folk song became high art: 'Blowin' in the Wind,' 'It Ain't Me Babe,' 'Don't Think Twice It's All Right,' 'The Times They Are a-Changin,' 'Mr. Tambourine Man,' 'Like a Rolling Stone,' Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde on Blonde youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *fr *ss *tf

3. Pete Seeger (1919-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; y). Friend and disciple of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger went on to become king of the protest song, especially as related to environmental issues: 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone?', 'The Bells of Rhymney,' 'We Shall Overcome,' 'Little Boxes,' 'Turn Turn Turn,' 'If I Had a Hammer,' 'Waist Deep in the Big Muddy' youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ff *ss *tf

4. The Weavers Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). Although perhaps not technically the first folk music "supergroup," their collective influence was to create the first mass public appetite for folk music: 'Goodnight Irene,' 'On Top of Old Smokey,' 'Kisses Sweeter Than Wine,' The Weavers at Carnegie Hall youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *cf *ff *fp *tf

5. Joan Baez (1941-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; y). Possessor of just about the most beautiful voice ever to express poignant thoughts: 'We Shall Overcome,' 'Love Is Just a Four Letter Word,' 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,' 'Diamonds and Rust,' Joan Baez youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ff *mv *tf

6. Peter (1938-), Paul (1937-) and Mary (1937-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). The group that found a way to focus "folk energy" in a manner appealing to a large--and paying--audience: 'Blowin' in the Wind,' 'If I Had a Hammer,' 'Puff the Magic Dragon,' 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *cf *ff *fp *mv *tf

7. Joni Mitchell (1943-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; y). Mitchell's brilliance as a songwriter, singer, and guitarist focused further attention on the role of folk singer as intellectual, raconteur, and artiste: 'The Circle Game,' 'Both Sides Now,' 'Urge for Going,' Clouds, Blue youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *cf *fj *fp *ss

8. Kingston Trio Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). In the late 1950s and early 1960s revival period this was one of the most popular folk acts, trading in conventional arrangements of both traditional and new material, and reaching a broad audience: 'Scotch and Soda,' 'Greenback Dollar,' 'M. T. A.,' 'Tom Dooley,' 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone?', The Kingston Trio, Sold Out youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *cf *ff *tf

9. Simon (1941-) and Garfunkel (1941-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; y). Paul Simon's genius as a songwriter and Art Garfunkel's vocal and arrangement skills rocketed S & G to the greatest commercial success ever attained by a folk act: 'Sound of Silence,' 'Homeward Bound,' 'America,' 'Scarborough Fair,' Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, Bookends youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *cf *fp *fr *mv *ss

10. Leadbelly (1888-1949) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; y). The legendary folk and blues performer who inspired many of the top white folk music performers of the 1940s and 1950s: 'Goodnight Irene,' 'Cotton Fields,' 'Midnight Special,' 'Gallows Pole,' 'Rock Island Line' youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *bl *ff *mi *tf

11. Odetta (1930-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). From the 1950s on, one of the most authentic and respected voices in the world of folk: 'Motherless Children,' 'Amazing Grace,' You Don't Know My Mind,' Ballads and Blues, Odetta at Town Hall, Movin' On youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *bl *ff *mv *tf

12. Doc Watson (1923-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; n). The country folks might also claim Doc Watson for their own, but his forte has always been authentic voice and guitar-featuring performances of traditional material: 'Tennessee Stud,' 'Deep River Blues,' 'Black Mountain Rag,' 'Wabash Cannonball,' The Watson Family, Memories, Doc Watson, Southbound youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ff *mi

13. Judy Collins (1939-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; y). Collins's beautiful, soothing voice and intelligent interpretations introduced many a fan to the up-and-coming songwriters of the 60s: 'Both Sides Now,' 'Amazing Grace,' 'Send in the Clowns,' In My Life, Who Knows Where the Time Goes? youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ff *fp *mv

14. The Byrds Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; y). In early 1965 the Byrds took listeners by storm with a new brand of pop music--folk-rock--but a year later veered in the direction of country-rock: 'Mr. Tambourine Man,' 'Chimes of Freedom,' 'All I Really Want to Do,' 'Turn Turn Turn,' 'Ballad of Easy Rider,' Sweetheart of the Rodeo youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *fp *fr

15. Fairport Convention Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; y). Over several decades, the leading exemplar of the term "folk rock": 'Matty Groves,' 'Meet on the Ledge,' 'Tam Lin,' Liege & Lief, What We Did on Our Holidays youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *cf *fp *fr *mi

16. Neil Young (1945-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; y). Young's career as an explorative and committed folk-rocker now spans five decades, and he's still not showing any signs of rusting out: 'Sugar Mountain,' 'Old Man,' 'Heart of Gold,' 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart,' After the Gold Rush, Harvest, Rust Never Sleeps youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *af *cf *fr *ss *tf

17. Phil Ochs (1940-1976) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; y). The quintessential 60s folk singer/songwriter, with a penchant for liberal values and bare-nerved social criticism: 'I Ain't Marching Anymore,' 'Draft Dodger Rag,' 'Outside of a Small Circle of Friends,' 'Changes,' 'The Highwayman,' 'There But for Fortune,' 'Pleasures of the Harbor' youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ss *tf

18. The Everly Brothers Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; y). The brothers Phil and Don set a standard for vocal performance of traditional and folk-like material that has never been surpassed, or possibly even equaled: 'Let It Be Me,' 'Bye Bye Love,' 'All I Have to Do Is Dream,' 'Bird Dog,' 'Cathy's Clown' youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *fp *mv

19. Donovan (1946-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; n). Initially a Guthrie-style folkie, Donovan Leitch branched out to create a commercially and creatively successful form of folk-pop that embraced psychedelia, jazz, lore, and myth: 'Catch the Wind,' 'Colours,' 'Sunshine Superman,' 'Season of the Witch,' 'There Is a Mountain,' A Gift From a Flower to a Garden youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ce *cf *fj *fp *fr *na *ss *tf

20. Jimmie Rodgers (1897-1933) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; y). Although viewed more as a direct line father of modern country music, nearly equally an influence on the development of American folk styles, especially through such figures as Woody Guthrie and Ramblin' Jack Elliott: 'T for Texas,' 'Blue Yodel Number 2,' 'Mule Skinner Blues,' 'In the Jailhouse Now,' 'T.B. Blues' youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *bl *ff

21. John Fahey (1939-2001) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; n). Though not truly a folkie, this quirky instrumentalist remained true to his root influences while inspiring a whole generation of guitarists: 'In Christ There Is No East Nor West,' 'Sligo River Blues,' The Voice of the Turtle, The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death, The New Possibility--Christmas Album, Blind Joe Death youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *af *bl *ff *mi

22. The Carter Family Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; y). Over the middle half of the twentieth century, the Carters were perhaps the most successful and influential popularizers of rural traditional and country forms: 'The Wildwood Flower,' 'Will the Circle Go Unbroken?', 'Keep on the Sunny Side,' 'Single Girl Married Girl' youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ff *mv

23. Gordon Lightfoot (1938-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). Since he first broke through with 'Early Morning Rain' in the early 60s, Lightfoot has been the most recognized name in Canadian folk circles: 'If You Could Read My Mind,' 'Sundown,' 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,' 'For Lovin' Me' youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *fp *ss

24. Arlo Guthrie (1947-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). Since the days of 'Alice's Restaurant,' one of America's most representative--and beloved--folkies: 'City of New Orleans,' 'The Motorcycle Song,' Hobo's Lullaby youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *af *cf *fr *tf

25. Alan Stivell (1944-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). Famous just about everywhere except in the U. S., this harp-playing native of the Breton region of France almost single-handedly engineered the worldwide late twentieth century Celtic music revival: Renaissance of the Celtic Harp, Harpes du Nouvel Age, A l'Olympia youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ce *cf *ff *fj *fr *mi *na

26. Bert Jansch (1943-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; y). Though little known in the U. S., Pentangle leader Jansch's international influence as a folk guitar stylist--and on the contemporary folk movement in Britain in general--was phenomenal: 'Needle of Death,' 'Angie,' Bert Jansch, Jack Orion, Rosemary Lane, The Black Swan youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *bl *cf *fj *fr *mi *ss *tf

27. Pentangle Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; y). The most inventive and virtuostic string band of their time, Pentangle explored the connections between folk and jazz, blues, and early music: 'Light Flight,' The Pentangle, Basket of Light, Sweet Child, Reflection youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *af *fj *mi

28. Richard Thompson (1949-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; y). After leaving Fairport Convention, Thompson really came into his own as a leading singer, songwriter, and electric and acoustic guitarist: 'Beeswing,' 'Meet on the Ledge,' Shoot Out the Lights, Mock Tudor, Rumor and Sigh youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *af *cf *fr *mi *ss *tf

29. Nick Drake (1948-1974) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). Little more than ignored in his own time, Drake's brooding, introspective music eventually caught on years after his accidental death in 1974: 'Day Is Done,' 'River Man,' 'Pink Moon,' Bryter Later, Pink Moon youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *af *cf *fj *ss

30. Leonard Cohen (1934-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; y). Master of word and image, Canadian Cohen is the poet laureate of the contemporary folk scene: 'Suzanne,' 'Famous Blue Raincoat,' 'Everybody Knows,' 'Hallelujah,' 'Bird on a Wire' youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *af *cf *fj *ss

31. Crosby (1941-), Stills (1945-) and Nash (1942-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 1; y). Adroitly plying the waters of pop, rock, and folk, CSN produced beautiful performances of solidly composed "folk-like" material: 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,' 'Ohio,' 'Teach Your Children,' 'Woodstock,' Crosby, Stills & Nash, Deja Vu youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *fp *fr *mv *ss *tf

32. The New Lost City Ramblers Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). Led by Mike Seeger, the Ramblers were/are (they have never officially disbanded) the leading string band revivalist act, since the late 1950s introducing new generations to the traditional music of earlier times: The Early Years, Old Time Music, There Ain't No Way Out youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *ff

33. John Denver (1943-1997) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 1; n). Pop star Denver was one-third folkie, one-third country boy, and one-third romantic idealist: 'Take Me Home Country Roads,' 'Leaving on a Jet Plane,' 'Annie's Song' youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *fp *ss

34. Ewan MacColl (1915-1989) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; y). Activist MacColl wrote songs and plays, collected and (brilliantly) sang traditional material, and overall earned a place in mid-twentieth century history as Britain's foremost figure in the world of folk: 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,' 'Dirty Old Town,' 'Moving On Song,' 'Joy of Living,' 'Sweet Thames Flow Softly,' The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Broadside Ballads youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ff *mv *ss *tf

35. Ramblin' Jack Elliott (1931-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). No one even comes close to doing "folk singer" as well as Jack does!: 'Pretty Boy Floyd,' Sings the Songs of Woody Guthrie, The Essential, America youtube.com video *cf *ff

36. The Chieftains Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). The Chieftains have been keepers of the flame of Irish traditional music for what seems like forever: Long Black Veil, Irish Heartbeat, The Chieftains 4 youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ff *mi

37. Tom Paxton (1937-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). Contemporary folk singer-songwriter par excellence Paxton has turned increasingly to the world of children's (folk) music: 'Bottle of Wine,' 'I Can't Help but Wonder Where I'm Bound,' 'The Last Thing on My Mind,' 'Ramblin Boy,' 'The Marvelous Toy,' 'Talking Vietnam Potluck Blues' youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ss *tf

38. John Prine (1946-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; n). Singer-songwriter Prine typically performs his contemporary folk-like compositions with a wink, in the mood of an ambling walk down a country lane: 'Paradise,' 'Hello in There,' 'Illegal Smile,' 'Sam Stone,' John Prine, The Missing Years, Fair and Square youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ac *af *cf *ss *tf

39. Clannad Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). The leading band of the Celtic music revival, as well as a significant influence on the development of so-called "New Age" music: 'Theme from Harry's Game,' Magical Ring, Anam, Clannad youtube.com video myspace.com *ce *na

40. June Tabor (1947-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; y). Tabor's dark rich voice has made her her generation's leading British traditional songs stylist: 'And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda,' Silly Sisters, Abyssinians, Airs and Graces, A Cut Above youtube.com video youtube.com video *cf *ff *fj *mv

41. Stan Rogers (1949-1983) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). But for his untimely death in an airplane fire in 1983, by now Rogers almost certainly would have reached the highest levels of fame within folk circles: '45 Years,' 'The Mary Ellen Carter,' 'The Field Behind the Plow,' Fogarty's Cove, Northwest Passage youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *mv *ss

42. Steeleye Span Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; y). Steeleye Span's clever arrangements of traditional material have made them an enduring favorite among British folk fans: 'Gaudete,' 'King Henry,' 'When I Was on Horseback,' 'All Around My Hat,' Below the Salt, Parcel of Rogues youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ff *fp *fr

43. Sandy Denny (1947-1978) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; y). Folk/folk-rock lost its leading female singer-songwriter prematurely when Denny died in an accident at the age of 31: 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes?', 'Fotheringay,' 'John the Gun' youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *fr *mv *ss

44. Harry Belafonte (1927-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; y). Perhaps most associated with calypso music styles of the 50s and 60s protest music, Belafonte has recorded all kinds of folk-related material over his career: 'The Banana Boat Song,' 'Jamaica Farewell,' Calypso youtube.com video *cf *ff *fp *mv *tf

45. Josh White (1908-1969) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; y). Singer-guitarist White was a key player in first the blues, then folk-revival scenes in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, influencing figures ranging from Ray Charles to Don McLean and The Animals: 'House of the Rising Sun,' 'St. James Infirmary,' 'One Meat Ball' youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *bl *ff

46. Sweet Honey in the Rock Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). Bernice Johnson Reagon (1942-)'s a cappella ensemble, embracing topical and traditional themes alike, has been active for over thirty years: 'I Got Shoes,' 'Emergency,' Still the Same Me, Live at Carnegie Hall youtube.com video myspace.com *bl *cf *fj *tf

47. James Taylor (1948-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; y). Taylor's emotionally plaintive voice continues to endear him to the folk community, even as his material selections move him further and further into MOR: 'Fire and Rain,' 'Carolina on My Mind,' 'You've Got a Friend,' Sweet Baby James myspace.com *cf *fp *ss

48. Martin Carthy (1940-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; y). Collector, singer, and acoustic guitarist extraordinaire, one of the leading figures in the English folk revival: 'The Famous Flower of Serving Men,' 'Scarborough Fair,' Byker Hill, Martin Carthy youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *cf *ff *mi

49. Townes Van Zandt (1944-1997) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 1; n). Perhaps more a country artist than a folkie, the late Townes Van Zandt ranked as one of our finest singer-songwriters: 'Pancho and Lefty,' 'If I Needed You,' Live at the Old Quarter, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ac *cf *ss

50. The Almanac Singers Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). This informal group including Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Lee Hays lasted only a couple of years in the early 1940s, but one can point to their union as a legitimate starting point of the twentieth century's "contemporary folk" movement: 'Union Maid,' Talking Union, Songs for John Doe youtube.com video *cf *ff *tf

51. Kate (1946-) and Anna (1944-) McGarrigle Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; n). Tight harmonies and smartly crafted songs characterize the work of this highly regarded bi-lingual Canadian duo: 'Heart Like a Wheel,' 'Talk of Me of Mendocino,' 'NaCl (Sodium Chloride),' 'My Town,' Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Dancer With Bruised Knees youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *cf *ss

52. Loreena McKennitt (1957-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; n). She of Canadian nationality, Celtic and rock sensibilities, and Barbra Streisand-class voice: 'The Lady of Shalott,' An Ancient Muse, The Visit, The Mask and the Mirror, The Book of Secrets youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ce *fr *mv *na

53. Suzanne Vega (1959-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). The break-through figure in the "New Folk" movement of the 80s: 'Tom's Diner,' 'Luka,' Suzanne Vega, Solitude Standing youtube.com video myspace.com *af *cf *fr *ss

54. Loudon Wainwright III (1946-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; n). Sly, wry, or sometimes just plain silly, singer-songwriter Wainwright alternately makes us laugh and cry: 'Dead Skunk,' 'Red Guitar,' 'Swimming Song,' Album III, Last Man on Earth, I'm Alright youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ss

55. Ralph McTell (1944-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). One of the top tunesmiths and songwriter-guitarists of the contemporary folk genre: 'Streets of London,' 'Gypsy,' 'From Clare to Here,' 'Zig Zag Line,' 'First Song,' Not Till Tomorrow youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *cf *mi *ss

56. Tracy Chapman (1964-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). One of the stars of the "New Folk" generation, with the flexibility of delivery to cross over to pop and rock at will: 'Fast Car,' 'Give Me One Reason,' 'Talkin Bout a Revolution,' Tracy Chapman, New Beginning youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *af *ss *tf

57. The Seekers Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). While the Byrds were inventing folk rock, the Seekers were the number one act of 1965 in the British charts, showing the way from Peter Paul and Mary to the folk pop of Simon and Garfunkel and the Mamas and the Papas: 'I'll Never Find Another You,' 'A World of Our Own,' 'The Carnival Is Over,' 'Morningtown Ride,' 'Georgy Girl' youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ff *fp *mv

58. Gillian Welch (1967-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; n). Relative newcomer Gillian Welch has quickly risen to the top of the current generation of tradition-oriented roots performers: Time (The Revelator), Revival youtube.com video myspace.com *ac *ss

59. Tim Hardin (1941-1980) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). A great songwriter and emotional singer, Hardin was another of the stable of 60s/70s folkies who couldn't quite gather the will to survive that era: 'If I Were a Carpenter,' 'Reason to Believe,' 'Misty Roses' youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *mv *ss

60. Leo Kottke (1945-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). John Fahey's most famous disciple, singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Kottke has long been known as the king of the twelve-string: Six and Twelve-String Guitar, Greenhouse, Leo Kottke Anthology youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *mi

61. The Clancy Brothers (and Tommy Makem) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). Another legendary band from the Irish folk tradition: 'The Jug of Punch,' 'Brennan on the Moor,' Come Fill Your Glass With Us youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ce *ff

62. Buffy Sainte-Marie (1941-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). Canadian First Nations-born singer-songwriter Sainte-Marie has had a long and successful career both within music, and beyond: 'Universal Soldier,' 'Up Where We Belong,' It's My Way! youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ss *tf

63. The Band Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; y). Led by the irrepressible Robbie Robertson (1943-), The Band moved folk rock back in the direction of roots music: 'The Weight,' 'Chest Fever,' 'I Shall Be Released,' The Band, Music from Big Pink youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *fr

64. Steve Goodman (1948-1984) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; n). Singer-songwriter Goodman also died young, but left us with 'The City of New Orleans' and other treasures: 'You Never Even Call Me by My Name,' 'Chicken Cordon Bleus,' 'A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request,' 'The Dutchman,' Steve Goodman youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ss

65. Kate Wolf (1942-1986) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; n). A singer-songwriter of rare compassion whose early death from leukemia robbed both the folk and women's music communities of a top talent: 'Across the Great Divide,' Give Yourself to Love, Close to You, Gold in California youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ss

66. Hazel Dickens (1935-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). Dickens' high-pitched "mountain" singing voice and authentic song writing have supported her various successful forays into bluegrass, honky-tonk, traditional folk, and roots country: 'Mama's Hand,' Hazel & Alice, It's Hard to Tell the Singer from the Song, Heart of a Singer, By the Sweat of My Brow youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ac *ff

67. Elizabeth 'Libba' Cotten (1893-1987) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). An ageless folk performer whose songwriting and country blues guitar-playing talents made her an influential favorite in the 50s and 60s: 'Freight Train,' 'Shake Sugaree,' 'Ain't Got No Honey Baby Now' youtube.com video myspace.com *bl *ff *mi

68. Taj Mahal (1942-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; n). Over his four decade-long career Taj Mahal has traversed the worlds of blues, jazz, folk, and international music with equal skill and success: 'Take a Giant Step,' 'Fishin' Blues,' Giant Step, The Source, Phantom Blues youtube.com video myspace.com *ff *fj

69. Bruce 'Utah' Phillips (1935-2008) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). A classic American contemporary topical folkie and storyteller following in the footsteps of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Malvina Reynolds: 'The Telling Takes Me Home,' 'Hallelujah I'm a Bum!,' 'Goodnight-Loving Trail,' 'Moose Turd Pie,' Good Though youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *cf *tf

70. Dave Van Ronk (1936-2002) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). Van Ronk's roots were in the blues, but his best known efforts fall more within the contemporary folk and singer-songwriter realms: 'Would You Like to Swing on a Star?', 'Cocaine Blues,' 'Sunday Street,' Folksinger youtube.com video myspace.com *bl *cf *ff *mi *tf

71. Christy Moore (1945-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). In the world of politically-motivated folk music, Moore is one of the top guns: 'Ordinary Man,' 'Ride On,' 'Go, Move, Shift,' Christy Moore, Ride On youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ce *cf *tf

72. The Roches Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; n). Suburban punk-rock folk is the Roches' forte, but from that starting point they've stepped out to explore a dozen other musical directions: 'We,' 'Hammond Song,' 'Hallelujah Chorus,' 'The Married Men,' The Roches youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *af *cf *fj *mv *pf

73. Nanci Griffith (1954-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; n). Sweet-voiced Nanci Griffith sings and writes wistful songs that appeal to both country and contemporary folk audiences: 'Love at the Five and Dime,' 'From a Distance,' 'Once in a Very Blue Moon,' 'Trouble in the Fields,' Last of the True Believers, Lone Star State of Mind youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ac *cf *ss

74. John Renbourn (1944-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; y). Renbourn's virtuostic blending of folk, blues, and early classical music has made him one of the world's top guitar stylists since the 1960s: Sir John Alot..., Traveller's Prayer, The Lady and the Unicorn, Wheel of Fortune youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video *cf *tf *fj *mi

75. Tim Buckley (1947-1975) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). The early death of Tim Buckley was perhaps presaged in the surreal lyrics to his most celebrated song, 'Morning Glory.' 'Song to the Siren,' 'I Must Have Been Blind,' Goodbye and Hello, Happy Sad youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *fj *mv *ss

76. Bruce Cockburn (1945-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; n). Canadian singer-songwriter-instrumentalist Cockburn doesn't shy away from the label "leftist": 'Wondering Where the Lions Are,' 'If I Had a Rocket Launcher,' Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws, Stealing Fire youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *fr *ss *tf

77. Greg Brown (1949-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). Gruff-voiced Greg Brown has made a reputation writing elegantly picture-perfect songs on the "little" things in life: 'Who Woulda Thunk It,' 'Canned Goods,' 'In the Dark with You,' Further In youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ss

78. Davy Graham (1940-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). Gifted acoustic guitarist Graham was one of the least-known, most underrated--and most important--movers in the early development of both world music and the British Soho folk scene: 'Anji,' 'She Moved Through the Fair,' Folk Roots New Routes, Folk Blues & Beyond youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *bl *cf *fj *mi

79. Maddy Prior (1947-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; y). Possessor of one of folk music's most outstanding voices and for many years leader of Steeleye Span, Prior is also an important collector/interpreter: Silly Sisters youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ff *fp *mv

80. Altan Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). Celebrated for the way they feature Donegal fiddle-playing and Gaelic songs, Altan has been a top Irish folk act for over twenty years: Horse With a Heart, Local Ground, Harvest Storm youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ce *ff

81. The Brothers Four Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). An important vocal group from the 1960s folk revival days: 'Greenfields,' 'Try to Remember,' 'Green Leaves of Summer' youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ff

82. Richie Havens (1941-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). The husky voice of Richie Havens brilliantly combines what seem to be diametrically opposed qualities: roughness and tenderness: 'Here Comes the Sun,' 'Just Like a Woman' youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *fj *fp

83. Joan Armatrading (1950-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 1; y). West Indian by birth then English by adoption, Armatrading's unmistakable voice and solid material guarantees her a continuing fanbase: Joan Armatrading, Me Myself I youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *fj *fp *ss

84. Michelle Shocked (1962-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 4; n). Shocked took the music world by storm in the late 80s, then settled back into a lower-key career as an activist singer-songwriter: 'Anchorage,' Kind Hearted Woman, The Texas Campfire Tapes youtube.com video myspace.com *af *cf *ss *tf

85. Mike Seeger (1933-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; y). Half-brother of Pete Seeger and leader of the New Lost City Ramblers, Mike Seeger has been a leading custodian of the authentic folk tradition: True Vine youtube.com video *ff

86. Cisco Houston (1918-1961) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). An itinerant traveling troubadour of the Jack Elliott/Woody Guthrie mold active in the 30s, 40s and 50s, before cancer silenced him at the age of 42 in 1961: Best of the Vanguard Years, The Folkways Years 1944-1961 myspace.com *ff *tf

87. Ani DiFranco (1970-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; n). A highly successful singer-songwriter from the "New Folk" generation, with just enough grit and punk in her bag to have successfully crossed over into commercial pop: Not a Pretty Girl, Puddle Dive youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *af *pf *ss *tf

88. Mississippi John Hurt (1893-1966) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; y). Hurt had two careers: one back in the early twentieth century as a light country blues guitar man, and one during the 60s as a "rediscovered" inspiration to the new generation: 'Satisfied and Tickled Too,' 'Avalon Blues,' 'Candy Man Blues' myspace.com *bl *ff *mi

89. The Pogues Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 2; n). Whether you think of them as folk rock or Celtic punk, The Pogues have been responsible for a lot of genre limits-stretching in their time: 'Dirty Old Town,' 'Fairytale of New York,' Peace and Love, If I Should Fall From Grace with God youtube.com video *af *fr *pf *tf

90. Ian (1933-) and Sylvia (1940-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). The stylistically influential Canadian folk duo also known for the folk classics 'Four Strong Winds' and 'You Were on My Mind.' youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *cf *ff *ss

91. Patty Griffin (1964-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; n). Griffin's star is still on the rise; a brilliant songwriter with a strong voice, she moves effortlessly from folk to folk rock to alt-country: Living With Ghosts, 1000 Kisses youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ac *af *fp *ss

92. A. L. "Bert" Lloyd (1908-1982) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; y). Lloyd was a key figure in the British folk revival both as a singer and as a collector of materials, especially from the maritime tradition: Blow Boys Blow *ff

93. Jean Ritchie (1922-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 5; n). Dulcimer virtuoso and traditional singer Ritchie is an American folk treasure: 'Shady Grove,' Carols for All Seasons, Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson at Folk City, Ballads youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *ff *mi

94. John Martyn (1948-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; y). From his origins as a hotshot acoustic guitarist in the Soho days of British folk, Martyn evolved an eclectic style bordering on blues or jazz: 'May You Never,' 'Couldn't Love You More,' 'Solid Air,' 'Don't Wanna Know,' On the Cobbles, One World youtube.com video youtube.com video youtube.com video myspace.com *bl *cf *fj *mi *ss

95. Janis Ian (1951-) Wikipedia entry (f.r.: 3; n). Even before her hits 'Society's Child' and 'At Seventeen' Ian was well known to the folk community, having published topical songs in major venues by the age of thirteen: 'Jesse,' Between the Lines