The Folk Musicians Who Inspired a New Generation of Songwriters

Compilations like this one often include the likes of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, among others. That’s perfectly fair, considering how much work those big names released in the folk music’s heyday and how deeply they have influenced iterations and evolutions of folk that followed. That being said, I think there are a few other folk musicians who inspired the new generation of songwriters in a really big way, yet they don’t get nearly as much praise. Let’s dive in, shall we? You might recognize a few of these names.

Pete Seeger

Pete Seeger was a legend, both on his own and as a member of The Weavers. His folk stylings are rivaled only by his political activism, and those two talents made him the kind of musician who could connect with audiences with ease. “We Shall Overcome” is essential listening, as is “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?”

Judy Collins

Judy Collins had quite an illustrious career and produced dozens of albums through the years. However, her debut traditional folk record A Maid Of Constant Sorrow is the one that still reigns as the most influential to folk musicians who walked in her footsteps. Her rendition of “Amazing Grace” is gorgeous. And her ability to jump from folk to country to pop to rock is particularly inspiring from a musical standpoint.

Janis Ian

Janis Ian was big in the 60s and 70s, and I think she deserves more credit for her contributions to folk. “Society’s Child” is one of the best folk tunes to come out of the late 1960s, and “At Seventeen” from 1975 deserves the charting success it received. The whole of Between The Lines is essential listening.

Woody Guthrie

This wouldn’t be a decent list of folk musicians who inspired a new generation without mentioning Woody Guthrie. His Dust Bowl ballads and working-class activism have stood the test of time, and his music has resurfaced often through the years in times of political and social peril. “This Land Is Your Land” and “Ain’t Got No Home” are essential listening.

Odetta

Everyone should know about Odetta. But, sadly, few might remember her in comparison to her contemporaries. That needs to be rectified. Odetta Holmes was a talented singer, guitarist, and civil rights activist who was given the title of “The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement” for a reason. She influenced many of the greats, from Bob Dylan to Janis Joplin. “Take This Hammer” is essential listening.

Photo by Library of Congress/Getty Images

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