The definition is serviceable, Jim, but even Oxford waffles and wobbles.

Mention of Dylan, Fairport, and Steeleye muddies the waters, since if the writer didn't think they were, or could be regarded in some way as "folk musicians," he wouldn't have mentioned them. In fact, it blurs the issue almost to the point of this thread.

We all know what a "traditional song collected by Cecil Sharp" will probably be like, but we can no longer know what a "folksong sung by X" will be like.

Howard's comparison to the use of "classical" music is right on the money.

In some contexts narrow application may be useful, but not in others.

BTW, the assertion that "Woodie" [sic] Guthrie above all others was responsible for revived American interest during the Depression makes me wonder what superficial whippersnapper wrote this article.What about Carl Sandburg? What about the Lomaxes (who discovered and promoted both Guthrie and Lead Belly)? Indeed, before the '50s revival gradually made their names famous, both Guthrie and Lead Belly were rather obscure musicians.