Bitin' on the guest thread. I'm suckered in again. All guest wants to do is start a fuss but I'm posting anyway ;)

For anyone who is interested here is Neil's website. You can listen to his latest album.

Is Neil Young a folk singer?

Cons

In Winnipeg the bands he was in were rock and roll "Brit pop" bands competing against the Guess Who
Buffalo Springfield wanted to be the next Beatles.
CSNY was a stadium band and a hit machine.
Neil solo career has consisted included a lot of pop singles.
He usually plays electric or big jazz guitars.
He plays rock and roll lead breaks

Pros

He knows Joni Mitchell
He's written and recorded a few protest songs.

My evaluation: He is a singer songwriter with a social concious and the prototype for the "grunge" movement.

On the other hand I believe that Bob Dylan was a folk singer and possibly still is. I think that Woody Gutherie made the mold for the North American Folk singer and in Many ways Bob fits that mold. In many ways he carries on Woody's tradition.

Cheers all jts