yes he should be the icon, we lean our bike on.

but he's not.

why, you may ask.

Formby's music was jazz based and therefore - its roots were more Americana than, than the pre-industrial revolution sound that most traddies strain after.

More urban than rural. So no deranged Walter Gabriel impersonation, which is the gold standard of english folksingers.

Plus he didn't play jigs and reels - through some oversight.

Plus, was something of naive amongst artists. The stories of other artists even, scoffing at his stupidity are many. the trad folk music movement is predominantly middle class - George Formby wasn't clever enough to realise his own significance as an artist, not really self conscious enough to adopt the 'seriousness' that characterises our movement.

having said that, theres a certain cross fertilisation between music hall and folk. I bet he shared the bill with artists like Sam Sherry a few times.