Captain Birdseye, The Weavers were popular, but as a general rule were dead as far as folk music entertainers go by the time Tom Dooley and the big folk boom hit. I left them out because it was ultimately their politics and their involvement in politics led to their popular demise. Pete Seeger was popular to many for his folk music, but again was extremely political on stage. There are those who like to hear Pete's music, but not his preachy rants. Bob Dylan came after the folk artists I mentioned, but many of his songs became hits by others, and his audience still wants his "hits" in concert. Woody Guthrie I could never really consider a folk music entertainer in the same sense. Agenda trumps entertainment. Not always disagreeing with that approach. But the fact is, folk music as entertainment has always been more popular than political folk music.