The Best Performers of Folk Music

Discover the best performers of folk music from around the world and learn about their stories, cultures, and music.

The Best Performers of Folk Music

Folk music is a genre of music that is known for its simple melodies and often tell stories of the every day life of the people. Folk music has been around for centuries and is still popular today. There are many different folk music performers out there, but who are the best?

Joan Baez

One of the most influential folk musicians of the 20th century, Joan Baez is a singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice, her eclectic choices in cover material, and her outspoken activism in numerous causes, including the anti-war and civil rights movements. Born in 1941 in New York City, Baez first rose to prominence in the late 1950s as an interpreter of traditional folk songs and, later, as a songwriter herself. Achieving early success with such hits as “Silver Dagger” and “House of the Rising Sun,” Baez’s career reached new heights with the release of her eponymous 1960 debut album. Throughout the ’60s, she continued to tour incessantly and release a series of popular live albums, eventually broadening her scope to include contemporary pop and rock songs by artists like The Beatles, Bob Dylan (with whom she had a much-publicized romance), and The Band. In addition to her musical achievements, Baez was also highly active in political causes throughout her career, from civil rights to opposition to the Vietnam War. In recent years, she has continued to record sporadically and tour internationally; her most recent album of new material, Day After Tomorrow, was released in 2008.

Woody Guthrie

As a singer, songwriter and guitarist, Woody Guthrie’s influence on American folk music is incalculable. His songs, many of which are now standards, are known for their populist sentiment, as well as their ethical and social commentary. Guthrie was also a prolific writer, and his autobiography, Bound for Glory, was adapted into a highly acclaimed film in 1976.

Lead Belly

Lead Belly was born in 1888 in Mooringsport, Louisiana. He grew up singing and playing music with his family, who were all part of the local church choir. When he was a teenager, he moved to Shreveport, where he began performing at local juke joints and honky tonks. He soon developed a reputation as a talented and entertaining performer, and began touring throughout the South.

Lead Belly became well-known for his distinctive style of singing and playing the 12-string guitar. His repertoire included a wide variety of folk songs, blues, spirituals, and even some pop tunes. He was also an accomplished songwriter, and wrote several songs that have become standards in the folk music genre, including “Goodnight Irene” and “Midnight Special.”

In the 1940s, Lead Belly’s music began to gain popularity with a wider audience, thanks to the support of folk musicians like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. He recorded a number of albums during this period, and even appeared on television and radio. Lead Belly continued to perform and record until his death in 1949.

The Best Folk Songs

There are many great performers of folk music, but there are a few who stand out above the rest. These musicians have a passion for the music they play and a profound understanding of the history and traditions behind it. They also have a unique style that sets them apart from the rest. Here are some of the best folk musicians around.

“This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie

Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” is one of the most famous and beloved folk songs of all time. Guthrie wrote the song in 1940, and it quickly became a staple of the American folk music tradition. The song has been recorded by hundreds of artists over the years, and it remains an iconic anthem of the American people.

“The Times They Are A-Changin'” by Bob Dylan

Since its release in 1964, “The Times They Are A-Changin'” by Bob Dylan has become an anthem for social and political change. The song reflects Dylan’s own experiences growing up in a time of great change, and it has since become an anthem for generations of people who are fighting for change. Dylan’s simple, poetic lyrics and his powerful delivery make this one of the most timeless and powerful folk songs ever written.

“We Shall Overcome” by Joan Baez

Joan Baez is one of the most celebrated and influential folk singers of all time. A committed civil rights and anti-war activist, Baez rose to prominence in the early 1960s with her poignant renditions of traditional ballads and protest songs. “We Shall Overcome” is perhaps her most iconic performance; a rousing call to arms that has become an anthem for the civil rights movement.

The Best Folk Albums

The best folk performers of today are a varied bunch, from up-and-comers to tried-and-true legends. These are the artists making the best folk music today.

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on May 27, 1963 by Columbia Records.

Dylan’s breakthrough album features his now-classic protest song “Blowin’ in the Wind”, as well as the heartfelt love songs “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” and “Bob Dylan’s Dream”. With an expansion of his songwriting palette, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan further established Dylan as one of the most important young folk-rock singer-songwriters of his generation.

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan was released to enthusiastic reviews from critics, who praised both its lyrical sophistication and Dylan’s vocal performance. The album peaked at number 22 in the US Billboard 200 chart and has been certified two times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2003, the album was ranked number 97 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Joan Baez by Joan Baez

In the 1960s, the young Joan Baez was one of the most visible stars of the American folk music revival. Her voice and melodies helped to popularize many traditional songs, as well as those by then-contemporary songwriters such as Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. Her self-titled debut album was released in 1960 and featured songs such as “Silver Dagger” and “East Virginia”, which helped to introduce her to a wide audience. The album also included Baez’s renditions of traditional songs such as “House of the Rising Sun” and “John Hardy”.

Baez’s second album, Joan Baez, Vol. 2, was released in 1961 and featured more traditional songs, as well as those by contemporary songwriters such as Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Barry McGuire. The album also included Baez’s versions of “Havelin House” and “The Banks of the Ohio”.

Baez’s third album, Joan Baez in Concert, Part 1, was recorded live at Carnegie Hall in October 1962 and released the following year. The album featured a mix of traditional ballads, topical songs, and self-penned material, including Baez’s version of “We Shall Overcome”, which would become an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement.

Baez’s fourth album, Joan Baez in Concert, Part 2, was recorded live at Carnegie Hall in October 1963 and released the following year. The album featured a mix of traditional ballads, topical songs, and self-penned material. Among the highlights were Baez’s renditions of “Farewell Angelina” and “Danny Boy”.

Baez’s fifth album, Farewell Angelina, was released in 1965 and featured her versions of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe” and “Mr. Tambourine Man”. The album also included traditional ballads such as “Black Is the Color (Of My True Love’s Hair)” and self-penned material such as “Children Of Darkness”.

Over the course of her career, Joan Baez has released dozens of albums featuring her interpretations of traditional folk songs, contemporary singer-songwriter material, and her own compositions. She has also been outspoken on a number issues including human rights, environmentalism, pacifism, and – most recently – gun control following the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012.

The Times They Are A-Changin’ by Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan’s third studio album, “The Times They Are A-Changin'” was released on January 13, 1964 by Columbia Records. The album consists of eleven tracks, all written by Dylan himself. Recorded in just two sessions in October and November 1963, the album’s themes mostly revolve around the social and political climate of the time.

The title track is perhaps the most famous and well-known song on the album. It has been covered by a number of artists over the years, including Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and Simon & Garfunkel. “The Times They Are A-Changin'” became an anthem for the 1960s counterculture movement and is still regarded as one of Dylan’s best songs.

Other notable tracks on the album include “Ballad of Hollis Brown”, “With God on Our Side”, and “When the Ship Comes In”. “Ballad of Hollis Brown” is a dark and poignant song about a farmer who is driven to desperate measures by poverty. “With God on Our Side” is a more hopeful track that looks at history from a religious perspective. “When the Ship Comes In” is a rousing call to arms that reflects Dylan’s growing interest in politics.

“The Times They Are A-Changin'” is widely considered to be one of Dylan’s best albums and is one of the most important records of the 1960s folk music scene. It has been included in a number of lists of the greatest albums of all time, including Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and NME’s 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made.