Awesome responses, guys and gals!! I appreciate the interaction!!

I get stuck...I would definitely have Pete and Woody, no question. Then I get stuck...being 38 years old, I feel compelled to add Bob Dylan because, quite honestly, I would not know who Woody, Pete, Odetta, Van Ronk, etc even were if it weren't for him. I don't believe the folk resurgence would have taken off like it did if it weren't for Dylan.

But it's hard to say Dylan is deserving without Ramblin' Jack Elliott...after all, it was Ramblin' Jack who taught Dylan the "Guthrie Style". Or Carolyn Hester, who introduced Dylan to Albert Grossman and Columbia. Or Joan Baez who introduced Dylan to Newport.

But then again, without Odetta would we have Baez? Or Bob Gibson, who brought Baez to Newport? Then, what about Lead Belly?

I love Mr Red's suggestion of the Lomax's, but what about Moses Asch? Or Izzy Young?? It would be difficult to minimize all of their contributions to the genre.

Then you have the different branches of Folk, Irish Folk songs, English, Scottish, etc and those off shoot's pioneers...I'm torn!!

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