I'm 68,Ebbie, and grew up in Wisconsin. I've been listening to and playing folk music since the early 50'sand went through the whole folk boom in the early 60's. That said, people can be knwon well regionally, and completely unheard of a couple of hundred miles away.
We still live in cultural "hollers."

I would consider saying that he is "Well-known in America" a gross over-exageration if I've performed, booked and listened to folk music in this country for fifty years, and never heard the guy.. That's not to knock him, because I have no idea what he sounds like, and only first heard of him ten years or so ago, and that just from a couple of people. And not since, until this thread.

It's kind of flattering to be considered wet behind the ears, though..

Jerry