Hey, John:

Whenever anyone starts a thread it reflects our own concept of folksinger. I didn't include people like Mississippi John or Robert Johnson, because blues seens to be considered as a separate category from folk (wrongly, as far as I'm concerned.) I also didn't include
Rev. Gary Davis... one of my very favorite singers and guitarists, because most people would just label him gospel. Same with Steve Earle, who I really admire, and would consider a country singer. I would not include Prince (who I think was a genius in his own right, although I never bought any of his music.) If Prince is a folk singer, then I have no idea what a folksinger is. That's not to minimize his genius. And if Prince is a folksinger, the Beatles are one of my favorite folk groups.

Now, if you're talking about what is easily available on CD, that's a different story. I love Cisco Houston as a singer, but I don't know how much is easily avaiable to you in England.

And how could we forget the greatest singer of American folk music ever?

Lonnie Donegan

Jerry