Peter, Paul & Mary

Contemporary Folk refers to post-Bob Dylan singer/songwriters in folk. Prior to Dylan, most folk performers interpreted classic folk songs or wrote broad-based, topical songs. After Dylan, folk singers changed their approach. Not only did their music open up, accepting certain pop/rock production techniques and instrumentation, but their songs became increasingly introspective, concentrating on the personal instead of the social. During the '70s, '80s, and '90s, contemporary folk singers... [+] Read More

Contemporary Folk refers to post-Bob Dylan singer/songwriters in folk. Prior to Dylan, most folk performers interpreted classic folk songs or wrote broad-based, topical songs. After Dylan, folk singers changed their approach. Not only did their music open up, accepting certain pop/rock production techniques and instrumentation, but their songs became increasingly introspective, concentrating on the personal instead of the social. During the '70s, '80s, and '90s, contemporary folk singers often crossed over into the pop mainstream, but they tended to frequent their own circles, releasing albums on independent labels and playing coffee houses. [-] Hide

The Clancy Brothers

Traditional Folk refers to the folk songs of the first half of the 20th century, before folk became the province of personal singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan. Traditional folk tends to be written as universal truths, and often concerns big issues instead of private matters.

Traditional Folk refers to the folk songs of the first half of the 20th century, before folk became the province of personal singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan. Traditional folk tends to be written as universal truths, and often concerns big issues instead of private matters. [-] Hide