Another thread (which seems to have attracted an irresistable troll) made me think about this.

Suppose you're a folk artist who manages to have one big mainstream pop hit, but can't follow up with another. Once the pop stardom and all the perks disappear, where does that person play? Is it back to small folkclubs in Unitarian Church basements, or even the folky bars where it can get noisy? Is there some kind of middle ground with decent venues, or is it straight from the 'penthouse to the outhouse'(forgive me rick F for stealing your line)

I know that it used to be that a country artist could have a whole career on one hit, but I think that many 'rock'nroll one hit wonders' just drifted back into civilian life, but what about folkies. I'm thinking of folks like Suzanne Vega, Janice Ian or Tracy Chapman who cracked the hit parade only once. I read about a fairly prominent folkie lady once who was riding high on the charts about six years ago and told Letterman or leno (or somebody) that she was definitely NOT a folksinger, because the term was too 'limiting'. It resulted in a few letters to Sing-Out from hurt former fans. This lady played recently at a very small coffee house near where I live, and certainly SEEMED like a folksinger now. She didn't even get a review in the paper. Any thoughts?

marty