He was the main reason perople got interested in folk music. he brought a lot of folk into the fold.

If you think folkmusic can exist without the acceptance of the generality of the 'folk', but with just few acolytes and froots readers - well you may be right. But I don't think so.

He was folk when he was young and artistically ambitious enough to want to be - I think he's settled for something much less over the years. Which is a little sad.