In the 1960s, anyone with an acoustic guitar and sensitive lyrics could be labeled folk music. Most often these artists were politically driven or focused their lyrics around injustice or other social concerns.
Musicologists such as Alan Lomax were instrumental in reinvigorating 100% traditional folk music in public consciousness, leading to its revival among artists like Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and Peter, Paul and Mary.
The 1960s
In the 1960s, musicians on both sides of the Atlantic brought folk music into the mainstream through influential artists like The Everly Brothers, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary. These groups adopted simple acoustic instrument arrangements while injecting political commentary about contemporary issues like civil rights issues and Vietnam war into them – adding modern elements such as electric guitars and vocal harmony for an authentic folk rock sound.
This new genre of music had a profound effect on global culture. It brought people together and fuelled a desire for freedom through innovative sounds that reflected an ever-evolving society. Furthermore, its unique blend of styles allowed musicians from different cultures to share their music globally, thus opening up endless possibilities for artistic creativity.
Women were instrumental in driving the music industry during this era. Legendary artists like Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, and Aretha Franklin revolutionized female representation in music while their songs empowered a generation of young women to stand up against injustice and demand their rights.
As such, the 1960s witnessed an array of protest movements supported by folk music. One such song from Buffalo Springfield that has become an iconic folk-rock track was “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Its lyrics capture this feeling of being overwhelmed by life while its music creates an immersive ambiance of both love and loss.
In the 1960s, black music saw its breakthrough with an explosion of folk-inspired rhythm-and-blues bands such as Sam Cooke and Otis Redding drawing inspiration from gospel to create close vocal harmonies, while Berry Gordy’s Motown label used doo-wop music combined with folk to craft its signature soul sound.
Folk music’s era marked a period of great social and cultural transformation, leaving an indelible mark on our world today. Songs created by these artists reflected rebellion against oppressive regimes while creating an artistic foundation for subsequent artists to build upon.
The 1970s
The 1970s witnessed an array of new musical genres and styles emerging globally. Jazz became mainstream and popular, while others attracted critics’ notice. James Taylor and Bob Dylan’s classic folk songs made waves within popular culture during this era as well.
As the decade began, America was still recovering from Vietnam, with continuous protests occurring all across the nation. This political and social climate had an immediate effect on music; lyrics and melodies expressed the feelings and anguish of this turbulent era through lyrics and melodies that captured its intensity.
As turmoil ensued, some of the great folk singers of their time kept singing out their messages with gusto: Woody Guthrie and Joan Baez spread their message while Bob Dylan released more folk-influenced hits; Cat Stevens and John Denver added rock and country elements into their folk music, giving them greater reach with audiences of all types.
In the 1970s, new musical genres like glam rock and hard rock became increasingly popular, featuring artists such as Isaac Hayes, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Al Green as major acts. Jazz remained immensely popular too with artists like George Benson and Bill Withers taking to the charts.
As these new styles emerged, a subgenre of folk music known as “folk rock” emerged, which combined traditional elements with rock instrumentation. Pioneering bands like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and The Byrds helped pave the way for this emerging style. Furthermore, many new artists began incorporating spiritual themes into their music; especially prevalent within immigrant communities where musical traditions of their homelands helped unify members and provide them a sense of identity. The combination of traditional and contemporary influences was key to folk music’s evolution during its dramatic growth during its revolutionary period during its formation in the 70s.
The 1980s
Folk musicians of the 1980s used their music and fame to raise awareness about worthy causes. While some artists focused on social issues that directly affected their fans, others used their fame to support organizations such as American Red Cross, National Endowment for the Arts or local or city charities.
One of the key tenets of the folk music revival in the 1980s was the resurgence of singer-songwriters. Unlike their traditional performers from early revivals, modern singer-songwriters tend to sing their own material as well as recording other artists’ tracks – often while focusing on lyrics and messages rather than playing instruments alone.
The revival of singer-songwriter music in folk has had many beneficial results. Not only has it given the music industry an exciting new trend, but audiences can now more easily connect with musicians and their art, leading to stronger fan bases for these musicians.
Traditional Folk artists have continued to be an essential component of music industry despite the dominance of singer-songwriters. Pete Seeger used songs written by his father to address social and political issues throughout his career. Meanwhile, Woody Guthrie used traditional Folk music while adding texts that addressed his generation’s needs.
Reviving singer-songwriter music within Folk has brought many advantages; however, some modern artists who have adopted this genre have run into trouble for their political leanings; they have even been accused of fascist or Neo-Nazi activity by some critics of Folk. Due to this phenomenon, some members of modern Folk have become wary about accepting artists with political conservative viewpoints into their circles.
As the 1980s came to a close, MTV introduced a revolutionary way of experiencing music. While MTV’s heavy rotation “top 40” station tended to exclude songs played on an acoustic guitar, other genres like Punk and Disco kept music industries going strong.
The 1990s
The 1990s witnessed many groundbreaking trends in music and culture. DIY (do-it-yourself) visual and musical forms flourished, with corporate promotions of such art forms often blurring with community expressions of such styles. International political change continued apace with the dissolution of the Soviet Union as well as violent conflicts such as Balkan wars. Princess Diana’s death also cast a long shadow over this decade.
At first, it seemed as though artists such as James Taylor, Cat Stevens, CSN&Y and America would keep Folk music (at least its Folk-Rock subgenre) alive, but disco and punk music as well as MTV with its visually spectacular videos drove Folk off the charts altogether, leading many younger listeners to view “Folk” with disdain and turning into something they perceived to be outdated and even offensive.
CBC continued their longstanding tradition of supporting folk music through various venues like folk clubs and coffee houses across Canada. Even though many songs played at these venues weren’t strictly traditional folk tunes, many contained elements from traditional songs’ forms; however, due to using basic instruments like guitars that weren’t tied directly back into these forms’ arrangements; their usage tends to distance this type of music from being considered folk.
Folk songs require musical accompaniment in order to fully convey their emotional and musical significance, so understanding its history – particularly its early forms – is of vital importance.
Folk music has its roots firmly planted in local culture, from honky-tonks and brothels of the American South, or coffeehouses of Greenwich Village, all the way up to global superstar songwriters like Robert Plant or Jason Isbell who still create what can only be described as Folk songs today. These performers, even after becoming immensely successful performers themselves, often retain strong connections to where their music came from.