You are all drifting off the original question as asked by 'spaw. Rest his soul. The term 'defines' in the title is nothing to do with the definitions you are discussing. He was asking who, to you, is the folk act that you would suggest typifies folk music. In his owm words, "Who defines Folk based on the same criterion as Ellington defining Jazz?"

If spaw was around today I am sure he would have a choice, accurate and very humourous phrase to describe those arguing about something entirely different :-)