The Best Folk Music Artists of the 70s

If you’re a fan of folk music, check out our list of the best folk music artists of the 70s. You’ll find a mix of well-known and lesser-known musicians who helped shape the genre.

Joan Baez

Joan Baez is a folk music singer, songwriter, and musician who achieved widespread success in the 1960s and 1970s. Baez’s music influenced both her contemporary Bob Dylan and future generations of folk musicians. She is often referred to as the “Queen of Folk” or the “Mother of Folk”.

Her work with the civil rights movement

Joan Baez has been an outspoken supporter of human rights and nonviolent protest since the early days of her career. In the 1960s, she was a key figure in the civil rights movement and anti-war movement, and she continues to use her platform to support a wide variety of causes. She has participated in Freedom Rides and marches, and she was arrested for protesting at the Pentagon in 1967. In recent years, she has been active in movements for environmental justice, GLBT rights, and immigrant rights.

Her work with the anti-war movement

Joan Baez’s career as a musician and social activist began in the early 1960s. A highly visible member of the counterculture of the 1960s, she performed at anti-war and civil rights rallies and gave benefit concerts for prisoners-of-war, the homeless, Puerto Rican nationalists, and others. In 1971, Baez was awarded the German Peace Prize.

Bob Dylan

His work with the civil rights movement

Bob Dylan’s work with the civil rights movement began in the early 1960s. He protested against racial segregation and racism in the South, and his song “Blowin’ in the Wind” became an anthem for the civil rights movement. Dylan continued to write songs about social issues in the 1960s, including “The Times They Are a-Changin'” and “Hurricane,” which protested the treatment of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.

His work with the anti-war movement

Dylan’s work with the anti-war movement peaked during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He wrote and performed several well-known songs opposing the Vietnam War, such as “Blowin’ in the Wind” (1963), “The Times They Are a-Changin'” (1964), “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (1965), “Masters of War” (1963), ” wit a Little Help from My Friends” (1971). In 1967, Dylan expressed opposition to the war in an interview with Playboy, saying, “I mean, how can you stand this kind of killing? How can you stomach it? How do people go for all this jive?”In 1968, Dylan was arrested for disorderly conduct after interfering with an officer who was arresting a young black man in a hotel lobby in New York City; the charges were later dropped. Also in 1968, Dylan wrote “With God on Our Side”, in which he takes issue with US foreign policy.

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young are often cited as one of the most influential folk music artists of the 1970s. The group’s harmonized vocals and guitar melodies helped to define the genre and inspire a new generation of folk musicians. Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young’s music is still popular today and their influence can still be heard in the work of contemporary folk artists.

Their work with the civil rights movement

In the early 1970s, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young became involved with the civil rights movement. They played benefit concerts for George McGovern’s presidential campaign and participated in the 1972 “Stop the Nukes” rallies in Washington, D.C. Young wrote the song “Ohio” in response to the Kent State shootings of May 4, 1970.

Their work with the anti-war movement

During the Vietnam War, many young people were drafted into the military against their will. This led to a lot of protests against the war, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young were some of the most outspoken critics. They wrote songs like “Ohio” and “Find the Cost of Freedom” to express their anti-war views, and they often spoke out against the war during their concerts. As a result, they were banned from many radio stations and their album “Deja Vu” was even banned from some stores. However, they continued to speak out and ultimately helped turn public opinion against the war.