Best Folk Rock Artists
Folk rock originates from... you guessed it, folk music. Folk rock hit the mainstream thanks to The Animals 1964 hit "House of the Rising Sun," a song that dates back to the late 19th century. Their success was followed by some of the best remembered artists in the genre including Bob Dylan.
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, and artist who has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. I love Bob Dylan, but it is obvious that people voting on this list don't have a clue about Folk Music. Where is John Prine? This list is insulting to anyone who has a clue what they are talking about. He should be number 2, but to not even have him on the list makes this list totally invalid.
Knockin on heaven's door, all along the watchtower, Chimes of freedom. Bob Dylan was more than a folk rock artist. His music influenced so many significant artists, that some people don't even know that it was originally his music. Bob Dylan is a genius.
Each of his song bears depth in lyrics with simple but beautiful tune. His songs can swing your mood better than anything. Such beauty, such composure! The best folk rock artist ever born!
Masters of War, Make You Feel My Love, All Along The Watch Tower, all amazing songs that stir something inside you. The guy knew how to get a message across. He's the best and always will be.
Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. This band does not have a bad song. Paul Simon is an amazing songwriter, writing every song they made. "The Sounds of Silence" is a deep song with amazing lyrics. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is such an inspirational song. Don't forget "Homeward Bound", "Cecelia", "Scarborough Fair", and "Mrs. Robinson". There is something for everyone
Go on YouTube and search the song "Bridge Over Troubled Waters". It is a song filled with beauty and wonder. Paul Simon was one of the greatest song writers and Art Garfunkel has such an amazing voice.
I can't believe Mumford and Sons are in the number 2 spot, I don think they reach the standards of artists such as: Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Young etc.
The elephants are kindly but they're dumb. Why you ask? Because they voted for someone other than this duo!
Neil Percival Young is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician, producer, director and screenwriter. Neil young is brilliant. He is one of the only musicians which capture the real essence of emotion in his song. You can connect heart of gold with loss and are you ready for the country with hope. He is also quite funny too. One of the truly great folk artist. He and big Dylan are #1 for me because I can't choose which is better.
Neil is the best singer songwriter after Dylan. In addition to folk/folk rock he dabbled in many genres and styles ( some not so good). Apart from this Neil and his band Crazy Horse rocked very hard without losing control and sometimes they could also be tender and soft ( Barstool blues,pardon my heart). They also paved the way to grunge. With such a pedigree including CSNY, he must be the most versatile artist ever
Neil Young is the reason I started to sing and play harmonica when I play guitar. There are some great artists on this list, but I truly believe that Neil rises above all. Some of his songs can be used to define Folk/Folk Rock. The song writing he has done is legendary.
Hey, Hey, My, My
Rock and roll can never die!
Discovered Neil Young in 1970, I was 11 years old. And I'm 58 now and I'm still listening and loving his music. He is all about the music and he makes you feel it. A true musician who never sold out. The Best.
Mumford & Sons are a British indie folk band from London, formed in 2007. The band consists of Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall and Ted Dwane. Mumford and Sons is the best Folk/Rock band of all time, because of their musical genius, style, poetic, meaningful lyrics and a sound that appeals to all. Modern day savior of this genre of folk/rock music! They have revitalized the music industry!
They are the best in current scenario. Because, they learnt from Bob Dylan. Their 2nd album "Babel" won the Album of the year award at prestigious 2013 Grammy awards.
You MUST take time and be patient with their songs, but the more you hear each one, the more amazing and perfect they sound. I Promise!
Mumford and Sons are excellent and I could listen to them all day, but number two? What about Cat Stevens, Neil Young etc?
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member, until the group disbanded in 1973. Although they only managed to attain the huge commercial ...read more. The Byrds perhaps have the most influence on rock music scene next to Beatles. In addition to kick starting folk rock, they pioneered psychedelic rock and country rock. Sometimes they are unfairly dismissed a has- been band ( starting from Dr Byrds) but they did come up with a couple of great albums subsequently.
Tom Petty &HB and REM made huge careers based on the signature folk rock of the Byrds
Byrds also influenced almost the entire lot of alt country bands( Listen to Jayhawks, Uncle Tupelo ) and paved the way to Americana genre. Their influence on psychedelic rock is next to only the Beatles ( Brain Jonestown,The quarter after, The Temples etc
Byrds not only mixed successfully Dylan with Beatles, their best work goes beyond that, a mix of psychedelia, jazz, great pop melodies and harmonies is what shapes their best, "Younger Than Yesterday" is the proof, it shows their talent, McGuinn's 12 string sounding like the combination of a Harpsichord and a Banjo marks their distinctive sounds.
Seventh place for a band that put electricity into the folk music they played? S and G hated what Tom Wilson did to their acoustic folk music and didn't want it rocked up. And Mumford and Son a rock band? Really?
Dylan was probably the greatest sonq writer ever. However The Byrds went electric with Mr Tambourine Man before Dylan. That hit started folk-rock and because of this, I think The Byrds should be #1 or #2 (behind Dylan)
The Band was a Canadian-American roots rock group formed in 1965 . Which originally consisting of Rick Danko (bass guitar, double bass, fiddle, vocals), Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, vocals), Garth Hudson (keyboards, saxophones, trumpet), Richard Manuel (piano, drums, vocals) and Robbie Robertson ...read more.
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake (19 June 1948 – 25 November 1974) was an English singer-songwriter and musician, known for his acoustic guitar-based songs. A singular talent who passed almost unnoticed during his brief lifetime, his work has posthumously achieved wider notice and recognition. It's sad because not many people know the story behind his sad soul so I will. Nick drake was not a Syd Barrett or Keith moon. He was known to take drugs but that's not what killed him. What killed him was the same mental disorder these 3 musicians all had: bipolar disorder. He gecame so depressed it was the death of him. Such a sad soul with so little time on the limelight.
A poor talented soul who deserved much more during his lifetime.
Such a beautiful voice. Could listen to him all day.
Yusuf Islam, commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, humanitarian, and education philanthropist. Absolutely. Creativity abounds from this man. If only that incident in the ocean never happened who knows how many more great Stevens albums we would have had. I just discovered him at the age of 31 his year and could only wish I knew of him earlier and before is 2016 tour so I could have gone to see him live.
Where is Cat? He is always forgotten because he converted to Islam and changed his name, but back in his reign, during the 70's, he wrote some of the greatest songs of all time including Peace Train, Wild World, Foreigner Suite, Moonshadow, and many more.
When you start listing great songs by Cat Stevens (and there are so many) I always start with Father and Son. Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat are two of my favorite albums.
Brilliant. Grew up listening to Cat. Father and Son is my all-time favourite song.
The Animals are an English band of the 1960s, formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, during the early part of the decade. The Animals were everything. They could play blues, rock, folk, anything. They certainly deserve a higher spot.
Not necessarily folk, but truly a great band.
Leonard Norman Cohen was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, sexuality and personal relationships. Cohen died on November 7, 2016 at the age of 82. Leonard Cohen deserves to be at the top of this list! he might have changed his style a bit in his later albums but his folk rock songs are the best ever! his lyrics, his voice, his music and the connection between them was just amazing!
Leonard was nothing short of incredible, amazing, and wonderful. He was a special man who will be missed and continued to be loved by his true fans!
He is just great
Crosby, Stills & Nash were an American-British-Canadian folk rock supergroup made up of David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash. They were known as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young when joined by occasional fourth member Neil Young. The best harmony band ever. All know about Young but Stills was very good on guitar particularly the acoustic in addition to being very good song writer and a great vocalist. Crosby and Nash blended in with perfect harmonies while often contributing some brilliant songs. However most of their later albums were disappointing
Some of the greatest harmonies ever. Crosby from the Byrds, Stills from Buffalo Springfield (and later Neil Young), and Graham Nash from the Hollies. Suite:Judy Blue Eyes, written for Judy Collins, is particularly amazing.
I love Crosby, Stills, and Nash so much. My four teddy bears named Violet, Bluebell, Rose, and Lily love them.
They were just amazing! Everything they did!
The Mamas & the Papas were an American folk rock vocal group formed in Los Angeles, California which recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968. The group was a defining force in the music scene of the counterculture of the 1960s. The group was composed of Americans John Phillips, Cass Elliot, and Michelle Phillips and Canadian Denny Doherty. Their sound was based on vocal harmonies arranged by John Phillips, the songwriter, musician, and leader of the group, who adapted folk to the new beat style of the early 1960s. ...read more. The Mamas and the Papas suck! They made everything worse. If any member had to be dropped from the band, it would be Cass Elliot because she was too fat and too round.
Love this group so much! Grew up watching Denny as the Harbour Master on Theodore Tugboat.
Kinda poppy but still they had great harmonies.
My all time favorite band! So much talent
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling artists of all time, and he has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. For me, I think his music is more of a mixture of folk rock and soft rock, as he is basically on the same boat as Jackson Browne or Dan Fogelberg (I still have Saturate While Using and Phoenix on vinyl). But James Taylor pretty much embodied 70s folk rock for me. His albums, such as Sweet Baby James and Mud Slide Jim & The Blue Horizon deserve a lot more listens, in my opinion.
There are things about this list that do look a little screwy. The Animals were terrific, but they're not folk rock, and they're in the top ten? Mumford &Sons are good, but not second best. This seems like it is a relatively new list, so it should straighten itself out, hopefully. Meanwhile, J. T. Is incredible, and should be top five.
James grew up in Chapel Hill, NC and was blessed to be part of a very musical family to include his father who was Dean of the Medical School at UNC. Obviously, he became the most celebrated musical member of the family and is so deserving to be on this list and I dare say in the top 5!
Is Fire and Rain the best song ever written? If not there aren't many above it.
Roberta Joan Mitchell, professionally known as Joni Mitchell, is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Drawing from folk, pop, rock, and jazz, Mitchell's songs often reflect social and environmental ideals as well as her feelings about romance, confusion, disillusionment, and joy. Poetry and great melodies. Songwriters, songwriter. God bless you for all those great albums. If you can only listen to one album to understand Joni Mitchell listen to Travelogue.
The album Blue is one of the best albums of all time regardless of genre. The songwriting is superb. Joni is right up there with bob and Neil as well as James and Carole!
Brilliant. Should be in the top 3.
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. was a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music. He is credited with helping to define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s. Absolutely. Move this man WAY up! So underrated, not just his singles, but album cuts like Beautiful, For Lovin' Me, Daylight Katy, does great covers too (Me and Bobby McGee, Last Thing on My Mind). Great singer and songwriter.
"The Edmund Fitzgerald" It's in my head and I can't get it out! This great singer songwriter is pure Folk Rock. He should be at least in the top 5 in this line-up.
This guy wrote 12 to 15 songs I would call flat-out classics and many other merely good ones. Sadly neglected today.
One of the originators of the genre, certainly worth the top ten.
James Joseph Croce was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and singles. His songs "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "Time in a Bottle" reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. His songs are so underrated.
Name ten contemporary folk albums that you can listen to straight through without skipping a track. Both Lumineers albums will be in that top ten. Simply amazing attention to detail. Check out the KEXP live sessions from them. Amazing artists. Amazingly rugged. Amazingly simple. Amazing.
Everyone of their songs are incredible. I would definitely switch them out with Mumford and sons
They're great, but better than Mumford and Sons? I don't think so.
The songs and lyrics have a meaning! Music with great lyrics, is great music
Joan Chandos Baez is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist whose contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest or social justice.
One talented woman
Of Monsters and Men is a five-member, English-language, indie folk-pop band from Reykjavík, Iceland, formed in 2010. I just can't stop listening to their music, it invokes my very being.
When I listen to "Little Talks", "Dirty Paws", "King and Lionheart", "Mountain Sound", I am the most alive. I treasure everything a bit more after I have listened to their songs. Give them a try, you will not regret it.
These guys are my fave band ever! They're so diff from normal bands yet they still have that folk rock feel. Vote for them!
My top five Of Monsters And Men Songs:
Mountain Sound
Little Talks
King And Lionheart
Sloom
Silhouettes
Check them out!
The Best Folk Rock Band Ever. I've never seen anyone sing like them.
How is this not on 1st? It's the best band ever.
I could listen to them for all my life
The very best in their category. Their music touches the soul!
Unrivaled. I'm in awe at the size and depth of their catalog.
Should be higher up
They are amazing
Peter, Paul and Mary are definitely folk, but I don't hear where the rock comes in. Heck, they didn't even like rock 'n' roll.
I realize their heyday was fifty years ago, still they should be top ten.
I love Peter, Paul, and Mary. They have great songs and great harmonizing.
Should be in the Top 10. This list is all wrong!
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley (November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997) raised as Scott "Scottie" Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Jeff Buckley was born in Anaheim, California, from musical lineage. His mother, Mary Guibert, was a classically trained musician, and his father, Tim Buckley, was a well-known folk singer. Buckley, however, only met his father one time; the two spent a week together when Jeff was 8. The elder Buckley died of a heroin overdose at age 28, less than a year after the pair's meeting. ...read more.
He should be higher than number 15!
Grace. What more could you want?
Beautiful, poetic lyrics, beautiful and accomplished vocals, great guitar, great chords etc etc