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Top 10 Folk Musicians


I choose to stay far away from the one

I choose to stay far away from the one to think money is money to they’re

to think money is money to they’re

to think money is money to they’re the musical profits of their times don’t

the musical profits of their times don’t

the musical profits of their times don’t lend Ark your door welcome to

lend Ark your door welcome to

lend Ark your door welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be

watchmojo.com and today we’ll be

watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 folk musicians hey mr. Tambourine Man

folk musicians hey mr. Tambourine Man

folk musicians hey mr. Tambourine Man play a song for me for this list we’re

play a song for me for this list we’re

play a song for me for this list we’re focusing on singers based primarily in

focusing on singers based primarily in

focusing on singers based primarily in the genre of folk music this means that

the genre of folk music this means that

the genre of folk music this means that someone like John Denver did not make

someone like John Denver did not make

someone like John Denver did not make the cut as he was more of a country

the cut as he was more of a country

the cut as he was more of a country singer than a traditional folk artist

number 10 Joan Baez some say love

number 10 Joan Baez some say love it is a real

it is a real

it is a real she was already an established star when

she was already an established star when

she was already an established star when Bob Dylan arrived on the Greenwich

Bob Dylan arrived on the Greenwich

Bob Dylan arrived on the Greenwich Village scene of the early 60s and

Village scene of the early 60s and

Village scene of the early 60s and together they raised awareness for human

together they raised awareness for human

together they raised awareness for human rights and societal issues

Oh

Oh with her penetrating vocals and ability

with her penetrating vocals and ability

with her penetrating vocals and ability to insightfully interpret the work of

to insightfully interpret the work of

to insightfully interpret the work of fellow musicians Joan changed with the

fellow musicians Joan changed with the

fellow musicians Joan changed with the times and stayed relevant by singing

times and stayed relevant by singing

times and stayed relevant by singing about what she saw happening in the

about what she saw happening in the

about what she saw happening in the world

world

world and while she claims she inspired some

and while she claims she inspired some

and while she claims she inspired some of Bob Dylan’s most famous recordings

of Bob Dylan’s most famous recordings

of Bob Dylan’s most famous recordings the queen of folk also inspired a man by

the queen of folk also inspired a man by

the queen of folk also inspired a man by the name of Steve Jobs who she dated in

the name of Steve Jobs who she dated in

the name of Steve Jobs who she dated in the early 80s she’s standing right in

the early 80s she’s standing right in

the early 80s she’s standing right in front of me speaking words of wisdom

front of me speaking words of wisdom

front of me speaking words of wisdom with a beautiful mind and soul by has

with a beautiful mind and soul by has

with a beautiful mind and soul by has made the world a better place through a

made the world a better place through a

made the world a better place through a true romance with folk music

number nine Nick Drake

number nine Nick Drake zài written as I say

honestly today musicians embrace the

honestly today musicians embrace the power of social media and YouTube to

power of social media and YouTube to

power of social media and YouTube to promotes their work but it’s unlikely

promotes their work but it’s unlikely

promotes their work but it’s unlikely that you’ll ever find a clip of this

that you’ll ever find a clip of this

that you’ll ever find a clip of this English singer performing live and

English singer performing live and

English singer performing live and that’s because such video doesn’t exist

that’s because such video doesn’t exist

that’s because such video doesn’t exist Crunchy’s

from 1969 to 1972 Nick Drake released

from 1969 to 1972 Nick Drake released three brilliant albums yet a reclusive

three brilliant albums yet a reclusive

three brilliant albums yet a reclusive personality sheltered his music from the

personality sheltered his music from the

personality sheltered his music from the general public due to a lack of touring

general public due to a lack of touring

general public due to a lack of touring and interviews he once studied

and interviews he once studied

and interviews he once studied English Literature at the University of

English Literature at the University of

English Literature at the University of Cambridge and with his cluster cords

Cambridge and with his cluster cords

Cambridge and with his cluster cords seasonal lyrics and a haunting voice

seasonal lyrics and a haunting voice

seasonal lyrics and a haunting voice Drake produced a melancholic sound that

Drake produced a melancholic sound that

Drake produced a melancholic sound that has long touched a nerve with listeners

many seas must go right

many seas must go right Oh

number eight Peter Paul and Mary how

number eight Peter Paul and Mary how many times must the cannonballs buy

many times must the cannonballs buy

many times must the cannonballs buy formed by Albert Grossman the man who

formed by Albert Grossman the man who

formed by Albert Grossman the man who later became the infamous manager of Bob

later became the infamous manager of Bob

later became the infamous manager of Bob Dylan this New York City trio became

Dylan this New York City trio became

Dylan this New York City trio became famous by covering blowin in the wind

famous by covering blowin in the wind

famous by covering blowin in the wind which they performed live at the 1963

which they performed live at the 1963

which they performed live at the 1963 march on Washington

even though Peter Paul and Mary produced

even though Peter Paul and Mary produced only a single number-one hits before

only a single number-one hits before

only a single number-one hits before their 1970 breakup they define the era

their 1970 breakup they define the era

their 1970 breakup they define the era of 60s folk and their music played a

of 60s folk and their music played a

of 60s folk and their music played a crucial role in the early commercial

crucial role in the early commercial

crucial role in the early commercial success of Bob Dylan’s career along with

success of Bob Dylan’s career along with

success of Bob Dylan’s career along with the counterculture movement that would

the counterculture movement that would

the counterculture movement that would arrive by the end of the decade

the end of December

the end of December I read you now just to see if you’re any

I read you now just to see if you’re any

I read you now just to see if you’re any better once a novelist and always a poet

better once a novelist and always a poet

better once a novelist and always a poet this Canadian has a knack for composing

this Canadian has a knack for composing

this Canadian has a knack for composing transcendental lyrics about life love

transcendental lyrics about life love

transcendental lyrics about life love sex and the true nature of the world

sex and the true nature of the world

sex and the true nature of the world around us

yeah

yeah songs like bird on the wire and famous

songs like bird on the wire and famous

songs like bird on the wire and famous blue raincoat have become ideal Rob

blue raincoat have become ideal Rob

blue raincoat have become ideal Rob tracks for moody listeners and even Kurt

tracks for moody listeners and even Kurt

tracks for moody listeners and even Kurt Cobain paid homage to Leonard Cohen in

Cobain paid homage to Leonard Cohen in

Cobain paid homage to Leonard Cohen in the 1994 song pennyroyal tea

even if his music often takes on a dark

even if his music often takes on a dark and mystical tone it’s the intellectual

and mystical tone it’s the intellectual

and mystical tone it’s the intellectual lyrics that have long allowed listeners

lyrics that have long allowed listeners

lyrics that have long allowed listeners to reflect and appreciate the wisdom of

to reflect and appreciate the wisdom of

to reflect and appreciate the wisdom of Leonard Cohen

and by the way he’s the original writer

and by the way he’s the original writer and singer of Hallelujah which gained

and singer of Hallelujah which gained

and singer of Hallelujah which gained more fame when it was covered by the

more fame when it was covered by the

more fame when it was covered by the likes of John Cale and Jeff Buckley

inspired by the music of Bob Dylan a

inspired by the music of Bob Dylan a young Canadian kid toward his country

young Canadian kid toward his country

young Canadian kid toward his country during the mid-60s and hooked up with a

during the mid-60s and hooked up with a

during the mid-60s and hooked up with a draft-dodging musician named Rick James

draft-dodging musician named Rick James

draft-dodging musician named Rick James only one of them would become a super

only one of them would become a super

only one of them would become a super freak while the other became the

freak while the other became the

freak while the other became the Godfather of grunge who got stopped

Godfather of grunge who got stopped

Godfather of grunge who got stopped children nuts that sound everybody puts

children nuts that sound everybody puts

children nuts that sound everybody puts born dad aside from being one of the

born dad aside from being one of the

born dad aside from being one of the co-founding members of Buffalo

co-founding members of Buffalo

co-founding members of Buffalo Springfield and Farm Aid Neil Young has

Springfield and Farm Aid Neil Young has

Springfield and Farm Aid Neil Young has earned acclaim for his prolific

earned acclaim for his prolific

earned acclaim for his prolific recording career with lyrics steeped in

recording career with lyrics steeped in

recording career with lyrics steeped in common man ideology

if some folk artists are an acquired

if some folk artists are an acquired taste this man creates road music with a

taste this man creates road music with a

taste this man creates road music with a message behind it hiim is searching for

message behind it hiim is searching for

message behind it hiim is searching for a heart of gold

a heart of gold

a heart of gold you keep me searching

you keep me searching

you keep me searching Oh

number five Joni Mitchell yet another

number five Joni Mitchell yet another Canadian on our list and with good

Canadian on our list and with good

Canadian on our list and with good reason

reason

reason Joni Mitchell taught herself to play

Joni Mitchell taught herself to play

Joni Mitchell taught herself to play guitar with a Pete Seeger songbook

guitar with a Pete Seeger songbook

guitar with a Pete Seeger songbook taking her alternative guitar tunings

taking her alternative guitar tunings

taking her alternative guitar tunings with her she arrived in the United

with her she arrived in the United

with her she arrived in the United States at a unique time in music history

States at a unique time in music history

States at a unique time in music history as the hippies of California took a

as the hippies of California took a

as the hippies of California took a liking to the singer’s quirky voice and

liking to the singer’s quirky voice and

liking to the singer’s quirky voice and fusion of various musical styles live

fusion of various musical styles live

fusion of various musical styles live nights window delight her lyrics were

nights window delight her lyrics were

nights window delight her lyrics were undoubtedly of the time and by taking

undoubtedly of the time and by taking

undoubtedly of the time and by taking personal control over production the

personal control over production the

personal control over production the final product was all her own kathira

final product was all her own kathira

final product was all her own kathira goo and i had to let him go after a

goo and i had to let him go after a

goo and i had to let him go after a number of iconic albums associated with

number of iconic albums associated with

number of iconic albums associated with the counterculture movement Joni

the counterculture movement Joni

the counterculture movement Joni Mitchell continued to innovate her sound

Mitchell continued to innovate her sound

Mitchell continued to innovate her sound throughout her career

throughout her career

throughout her career even if popular tastes had changed still

even if popular tastes had changed still

even if popular tastes had changed still I’d be on my feet gonna lay down my

I’d be on my feet gonna lay down my

I’d be on my feet gonna lay down my sword and team

number four Pete Seeger done by the

number four Pete Seeger done by the Riverside born to a harvard-educated

Riverside born to a harvard-educated

Riverside born to a harvard-educated father and mother who taught at

father and mother who taught at

father and mother who taught at Juilliard the late Pete Seeger found an

Juilliard the late Pete Seeger found an

Juilliard the late Pete Seeger found an early friend in music I went to your

early friend in music I went to your

early friend in music I went to your family and I asked him for you Bell said

family and I asked him for you Bell said

family and I asked him for you Bell said take her out tinker please do upon

take her out tinker please do upon

take her out tinker please do upon forming the weavers in late 40s New York

forming the weavers in late 40s New York

forming the weavers in late 40s New York City Pete Seeger inadvertently sparked a

City Pete Seeger inadvertently sparked a

City Pete Seeger inadvertently sparked a folk revival as musicians eventually

folk revival as musicians eventually

folk revival as musicians eventually came from all parts of the country to

came from all parts of the country to

came from all parts of the country to play with the musician including a young

play with the musician including a young

play with the musician including a young Bob Dylan hey by the early 60s Seger was

Bob Dylan hey by the early 60s Seger was

Bob Dylan hey by the early 60s Seger was already 40 years of age and before the

already 40 years of age and before the

already 40 years of age and before the end of that decade he led a group of

end of that decade he led a group of

end of that decade he led a group of protestors to the Capitol during the

protestors to the Capitol during the

protestors to the Capitol during the moratorium to end the war in Vietnam

moratorium to end the war in Vietnam

moratorium to end the war in Vietnam over 40 years later he was occupying

over 40 years later he was occupying

over 40 years later he was occupying Wall Street and performing live at Farm

Wall Street and performing live at Farm

Wall Street and performing live at Farm Aid before his death at the age of 94

that was planted in my brain number

that was planted in my brain number three

three

three simon and garfunkel will sound

simon and garfunkel will sound

simon and garfunkel will sound silence

silence

silence okay so maybe folk music wasn’t

okay so maybe folk music wasn’t

okay so maybe folk music wasn’t necessarily all the rage in the 1960s

necessarily all the rage in the 1960s

necessarily all the rage in the 1960s however by the end of the decade it most

however by the end of the decade it most

however by the end of the decade it most certainly was and that was in large part

certainly was and that was in large part

certainly was and that was in large part to the music of Paul Simon and Art

to the music of Paul Simon and Art

to the music of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel when we were 15 years old we

Garfunkel when we were 15 years old we

Garfunkel when we were 15 years old we uh what we did is show up in the and the

uh what we did is show up in the and the

uh what we did is show up in the and the Hartford Stage Theatre we were 15 no

Hartford Stage Theatre we were 15 no

Hartford Stage Theatre we were 15 no what happens as no we know that was in

what happens as no we know that was in

what happens as no we know that was in common

common

common oh that’s right under Tom and Jerry

oh that’s right under Tom and Jerry

oh that’s right under Tom and Jerry originally formed as Tom and Jerry in

originally formed as Tom and Jerry in

originally formed as Tom and Jerry in Queens New York during the 50s

Queens New York during the 50s

Queens New York during the 50s Simon and Garfunkel soon found a place

Simon and Garfunkel soon found a place

Simon and Garfunkel soon found a place in the mainstream with their deeply

in the mainstream with their deeply

in the mainstream with their deeply insightful lyrics and pop sensibilities

like many artists they would break up

like many artists they would break up and join forces time and time again but

and join forces time and time again but

and join forces time and time again but the 60s charts were filled with Simon

the 60s charts were filled with Simon

the 60s charts were filled with Simon and Garfunkel evergreen hits they didn’t

and Garfunkel evergreen hits they didn’t

and Garfunkel evergreen hits they didn’t only capture the sentiment of the time

only capture the sentiment of the time

only capture the sentiment of the time also were simultaneously timeless in

also were simultaneously timeless in

also were simultaneously timeless in nature and the words of the prophets are

nature and the words of the prophets are

nature and the words of the prophets are written on subway walls and tenement Oh

number two Bob Dylan anyone known in the

number two Bob Dylan anyone known in the Sun was Shannon she was lying in bed

Sun was Shannon she was lying in bed

Sun was Shannon she was lying in bed wondering if she changed it all of her

wondering if she changed it all of her

wondering if she changed it all of her hair was still live born and raised in

hair was still live born and raised in

hair was still live born and raised in Minnesota Bob Dylan grew up listening to

Minnesota Bob Dylan grew up listening to

Minnesota Bob Dylan grew up listening to the likes of Woody Guthrie and Robert

the likes of Woody Guthrie and Robert

the likes of Woody Guthrie and Robert Johnson and he would name his iconic

Johnson and he would name his iconic

Johnson and he would name his iconic 1965 album after the road that

1965 album after the road that

1965 album after the road that symbolically connected him to the Delta

symbolically connected him to the Delta

symbolically connected him to the Delta blues landscape of the deep south

but through his own willpower and a

but through his own willpower and a little bit of luck

little bit of luck

little bit of luck he first shocked the folk scene of New

he first shocked the folk scene of New

he first shocked the folk scene of New York City with his surrealistic lyrics

York City with his surrealistic lyrics

York City with his surrealistic lyrics tinged with Americana before reaching a

tinged with Americana before reaching a

tinged with Americana before reaching a larger stage and though he’s never

larger stage and though he’s never

larger stage and though he’s never claimed to be anything more than a

claimed to be anything more than a

claimed to be anything more than a singer Bob Dylan came to represent the

singer Bob Dylan came to represent the

singer Bob Dylan came to represent the essence of artistic freedom and music

essence of artistic freedom and music

essence of artistic freedom and music evolution Hey

please I’m going to before we unveil our

please I’m going to before we unveil our topic here are a few honorable mentions

topic here are a few honorable mentions

topic here are a few honorable mentions peace train sound business chain

my

my so much depth in

so much depth in

so much depth in a caution reminder where I can find her

a caution reminder where I can find her

a caution reminder where I can find her reports tell her punch your fill lefties

reports tell her punch your fill lefties

reports tell her punch your fill lefties living in a cheap hotel metal spoon holy

living in a cheap hotel metal spoon holy

living in a cheap hotel metal spoon holy ghost evil number one Woody Guthrie this

ghost evil number one Woody Guthrie this

ghost evil number one Woody Guthrie this land is your land and this land is my

land is your land and this land is my

land is your land and this land is my land and the California in the New York

land and the California in the New York

land and the California in the New York island take a look at this man’s guitar

island take a look at this man’s guitar

island take a look at this man’s guitar and you’ll understand his musical

and you’ll understand his musical

and you’ll understand his musical ideology born and raised in the American

ideology born and raised in the American

ideology born and raised in the American Dust Bowl Woody Guthrie was inspired by

Dust Bowl Woody Guthrie was inspired by

Dust Bowl Woody Guthrie was inspired by the working-class and wrote songs about

the working-class and wrote songs about

the working-class and wrote songs about his emigration from Oklahoma to

his emigration from Oklahoma to

his emigration from Oklahoma to California from California to the New

California from California to the New

California from California to the New York island unimpressed with beloved

York island unimpressed with beloved

York island unimpressed with beloved songs that didn’t reflect the present

songs that didn’t reflect the present

songs that didn’t reflect the present woody wrote this land is your land and

woody wrote this land is your land and

woody wrote this land is your land and continue to write at a rapid pace in

continue to write at a rapid pace in

continue to write at a rapid pace in order to represent the realities of

order to represent the realities of

order to represent the realities of those lost in the shuffle of big

those lost in the shuffle of big

those lost in the shuffle of big business and politics in the dead hours

business and politics in the dead hours

business and politics in the dead hours of night he rose from

her flag here near the end of his life a

her flag here near the end of his life a teenage bag named Bob Dylan paid him a

teenage bag named Bob Dylan paid him a

teenage bag named Bob Dylan paid him a visit and the music of Guthrie would

visit and the music of Guthrie would

visit and the music of Guthrie would soon be reintroduced to the world

soon be reintroduced to the world

soon be reintroduced to the world through a new generation of folk music

through a new generation of folk music

through a new generation of folk music artists land is mine you know what gives

artists land is mine you know what gives

artists land is mine you know what gives me courage is to think that this song

me courage is to think that this song

me courage is to think that this song was never on the top 40 it was never on

was never on the top 40 it was never on

was never on the top 40 it was never on the top of the hit parade but hundreds

the top of the hit parade but hundreds

the top of the hit parade but hundreds of millions of people know the song yeah

of millions of people know the song yeah

of millions of people know the song yeah so do you agree with our selections who

so do you agree with our selections who

so do you agree with our selections who is your favorite folk musician oh my

is your favorite folk musician oh my

is your favorite folk musician oh my life on the line thank you for more

life on the line thank you for more

life on the line thank you for more mind-blowing top 10s published daily be

mind-blowing top 10s published daily be

mind-blowing top 10s published daily be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com

sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com

sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com are you moody at the very best time in

are you moody at the very best time in

are you moody at the very best time in his life when he was a young man lots of

his life when he was a young man lots of

his life when he was a young man lots of ideals and I thought loft tower and

ideals and I thought loft tower and

ideals and I thought loft tower and that’s the woody I Center on that’s what

that’s the woody I Center on that’s what

that’s the woody I Center on that’s what I come in off and I’m not gonna remember

I come in off and I’m not gonna remember

I come in off and I’m not gonna remember any other wood

”

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