Joe Hickerson, Takoma Park Maryland (former head of the Archive of Folk Culture at the Library of Congress). His recordings include some great Child versions, and his concerts always include some lovely ones. Some of my favorites: Catskill Mountain variants learned from source singers at Camp Woodland in NY State in the 50s.

Helen Schneyer, Plainfield, Vermont: all of her recordings include a significant number of traditional ballads, as do her concerts. She's 83, still performing, and has a new CD on its way.

Margaret MacArthur of Marlboro, Vermont: a singer and scholar, particularly of Child ballad versions collected by New England collectors Helen Hartness Flanders and Eloise Hubbard Linscott

Sandy and Caroline Paton of Sharon, Connecticut: owners and founders of Folk-Legacy Records, and performers of mostly traditional material including many, many ballads.

Art Thieme of Peru, Illinois: not currently performing, but has recorded many wonderful American versions of Child ballads, including my favorite "Cowboy Barbara Allen"

John Roberts and Tony Barrand, both solo and as a duo. Their performances always include ballads, and their recording of supernatural ballads, "Dark Ships in the Forest," is the best.

Lisa Null of Silver Spring, Maryland (Charlie, I can't believe you didn't mention her!). Sings and has recorded many unusual and beautiful versions of traditional ballads.

Judy Cook of Laurel, Maryland: already mentioned by Charlie and Ferrara, but worth noting that she has recorded two CDs that include LOTS of ballads--again some unusual and beautiful versions.

Phil Cooper and Margaret Nelson from the Chicago area: longtime performers and ballad junkies, with loads of Child versions on their numerous recordings.

Cindy Mangsen of Bennington, Vermont: Again, a ballad junkie who can always be counted on to include lovely and unusual versions of Child ballads. She has recorded many of these.

Sue West of York Beach, Maine: not a full-time performer, but a great lover of ballads whose repertoire is probably 90% made up of Child versions.

Joanie Bronfman and Neal MacMillan of Boston, Mass.: Again, not full-time performers, but devoted amateurs who fall firmly in the Child-ballad junkie category.

Ed Trickett of Chicago, Illinois: Always includes versions of Child ballads in his performances, and has recorded many on his numerous recordings (both solo and with Gordon Bok and Ann Mayo Muir).

Betty Smith of Georgia: A rich source of traditional North American versions of Child ballads. She has recorded many of these on Folk Legacy and other labels.

And those are just the ones that spring to mind in five minutes of thinking about it at my desk at work. I, too, am a ballad junkie, and though not a full-time performer, always include 3-4 traditional Child ballad versions in every performance (usually at festivals like NOMAD, NEFFA, and the Washington Folk Festival). There are LOTS of people out there, both dedicated amateurs like myself and full-time touring musicians, who just love this material.