For me, the best measure has to be how I "voted" with my dollars in buying albums. I've listed 8 (in order) so that the purists can throw out anyone they deem insufficiently "folk."
1 Gord
2 Maddy Prior (in Steeleye Span,
Silly Sisters and solo)
3 (tie) Cat Stevens
3 (tie) Paul Simon
(including Simon & Garfunkel)
5 (tie) Joni Mitchell
5 (tie) Pete Seeger
7 Mike Cross
8 Christine Lavin
All the above are singer-songwriters except Maddy Prior (who has written some but is primarily a singer).
Upcoming favorites, who may eventually make their way into the top 5, include Indigo Girls (probably more rock than folk) and the delightful Christine Lavin.
I have not included Raffi in this list, because I purchased his records and tapes for my children to listen to (OK, I listen too, but that's not why I bought them). His Christmas album is still one of my favorites. What a happy sounding man !
LOL
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"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by."
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