If it were not for groups like The Kingston Trio; Peter, Paul, and Mary; The Limelighters; and the Brothers Four, I would probably not love folk music as much as I do. Their music was played on pop radio stations at the right time of my life. My slightly older friends adored Elvis; my slightly younger friends screamed for the Beatles; but thanks to the popular "commercial" groups, I became a folkie. Yes, I spent some time thinking those groups were not authentic, but I'm long past that and grateful for how they influenced my musical preferences.