"I thin it was the Carpenters who were first tagged as 'country' in a radio broadcast which intruced their 'songs of the country' way back in the 1920's"

I think you might mean the Carters - Carpenters were somewhat different and certainly not 20's!

And I don't think it is either ignorant or snobbery to say you like some stuff and don't like others.

I try to take the measure of the clubs I perform at and follow what I hear. Often though I throw in some Carter family cos of my instrument. It seems to go down well usually. I do get a bit fed up though when I go to what is billed as a folk club and all I get is "Your Cheating Heart" and "Okie from Muskogee". Its enjoyable in the mix, but not when it takes over.