I am too young to rememember Paul Robeson, Mike, though I heard several of his recordings of course. It's his classical training that made me de-classify him from "folk singer". But I do - just - remember Harry Belafonte, my elder sister had a thing for him, I believe, as she did for several of the better looking actors of the day. Perhaps being the other side of the water has given me fewer opportunities to appreciate either of them in a folk context, so I stand corrected!

You mentioned Alan Arkin - I always admired him as an actor, but never knew of his folk links. Can you point me to somewhere where I can find out more?