Bob, there is a thread in the Mudcat archives on the history of singing where the first known evidence of music are debated from around the world. This current thread is regarding the folk "revival" of the 20th Century as it became the coffehouse scene... (although the majority of the messages don't respond to M.Ted's topic as he posted when starting this thread).

I'll try to find the one on the history of song and link it here for those who want to go in that direction.

-alice