"This is not a fully researched idea, just the seeds of a thought,"

Thin Lizzy and Van Morrison popped into my head from watching a PBS show on Irish music the other day. They were credited with bringing things like Whiskey in the Jar, etc., to the early rock crowd. The Byrds (Roger McGuinn, mostly) were also influenced by folk music. Jerry Garcia has done quite a bit of un-Dead work recording traditional mountain folk music and ballads along with David Grisman and others. As mentioned, this is hardly a mature idea, just a talking point for discussion. I have heard tracks by groups like Credence (among others) that have sent me scurrying after other versions and backstory which has led me to other traditional music in a frenzy of discovery. I think it works the same for others who weren't into folk from an early age. Thoughts?