Folk music is characterized as traditional music that often deals with themes of life's daily struggles. It passed from generation to generation via oral tradition. Typically the composers were unknown and the music was played on traditional, acoustic instruments. A folk revival in the 20th century led to the popularization of the art through socially-conscious singer/songwriters who worked within the folk form and also expanded it in the rock era, especially in the 1960s, with more electric instruments. Another wave occurred in the 21st century with artists who found audiences at adult alternative radio.
17 lists focused on the best folk and/or folk-rock acts of all time were aggregated to create this list.
See other lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre.
Bob Dylan
14 lists:
1. Bob Dylan
2. Simon & Garfunkel
13 lists:
3. Joni Mitchell
4. Joan Baez
5. Pete Seeger
12 lists:
6. Woody Guthrie
10 lists:
7. Neil Young
8. James Taylor
9. Leonard Cohen
10. Peter, Paul, & Mary
9 lists:
11. Gordon Lightfoot
8 lists:
12. Cat Stevens
13. Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter
14. The Kingston Trio
15. Judy Collins
7 lists:
16. The Byrds
17. John Prine
18. Odetta
19. Bon Iver
20. Arlo Guthrie
6 lists:
21. Crosby, Stills & Nash
22. Grateful Dead
23. John Denver
24. The Carter Family
25. Mumford & Sons
26. The Mamas & the Papas
27. Nick Drake
28. Don McLean
29. Donovan
30. Sufjan Stevens
31. Harry Chapin
32. Ani DiFranco
33. Phil Ochs
5 lists:
34. Paul Simon
35. Carole King
36. Harry Belafonte
37. Tracy Chapman
38. Buffalo Springfield
39. The Weavers
40. Jim Croce
41. The Decemberists
42. Fairport Convention
43. Fleet Foxes
44. Joan Armatrading
45. Doc Watson
46. Ramblin' Jack Elliott
4 lists:
47. Johnny Cash
48. Jethro Tull
49. The Band
50. David Crosby
51. Indigo Girls
52. The Lumineers
53. America
54. Richard Thompson
55. Suzanne Vega
56. Lovin’ Spoonful
57. Ben Harper
58. Dan Fogelberg
59. Elliott Smith
60. Bright Eyes
61. Bert Jansch
62. Neutral Milk Hotel
63. Joanna Newsom
64. Townes Van Zandt
65. Billy Bragg
66. Elizabeth Cotten
67. Steeleye Span
68. Janis Ian
69. Buffy Sainte-Marie
3 lists:
70. Van Morrison
71. Tom Waits
72. Jackson Browne
73. Melissa Etheridge
74. Emmylou Harris
75. Violent Femmes
76. Graham Nash
77. Jimmie Rodgers
78. Love
79. Shawn Colvin
80. Jewel
81. Roger McGuinn
82. The Pogues
83. Of Monsters & Men
84. Mississippi John Hurt
85. Tim Buckley
86. Bruce Cockburn
87. Al Stewart
88. Gillian Welch
89. Patty Griffin
90. The Incredible String Band
91. Iron & Wine
92. The Highwaymen
93. Tom Paxton
94. Michelle Shocked
95. Dave Van Ronk
96. Loudon Wainwright III
97. Ian & Sylvia
98. Ewan MacColl
99. Pentangle
2 lists:
100. The Everly Brothers
Resources/Related Links:
First posted 6/30/2026. | 
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