Congrats, Jerry, on getting up a thread that's worth contributing to and reading. Although the title of the thread may appear divisive at first glance, it is precisely the innumerating of differences that forces the realization of commonality.

Ron, who often jams with us, by the way, Jerry, is one of the more eclectic players and singers around our area and can contribute in many genres.

Our old pal Rick Fielding liked to use "Rolling in my Sweet Babies Arms" as an ice breaker, he did so with me the first time we sat down to play togther. That song began as Old Time (no it wasn't a fiddle tune, ahem...) traveled into Bluegrass and Country. But is performed by Doc Watson at Folk Festivals. Rick's choice was a perfect one in that that song, like Ron's example above, "Sitting on Top of the World", travels across the American Folk/Tradtional/Old Time/Bluegrass/Blues genre boundaries.

Susette and I travel across the boundaries, also. In fact, we don't see them as boundaries, and distinguish between them only when asked:
"What kind of music do you play". How I dread that question, as there is no short answer. As we have seen illustrated in this thread, we don't agree on the definitions and one never knows what one has truly said to the questioner.

regards,
chance