The Most Influential Men of Folk Music

Woody Guthrie wrote an uncountable amount of songs in his lifetime. I say uncountable, because the songs are still turning up. He was practically compulsive about writing folk songs, and the amount he recorded is even more impressive. He added to the American tradition exceptional songs like "This Land is Your Land," "Roll on Columbia," "Pretty Boy Floyd," "Pastures of Plenty," and so on.

Bill Monroe is credited with "founding" American bluegrass music, which is enough of a contribution to put him at number two on this list. His band, the Blue Grass Boys, spun off into some of the most important, influential bluegrass groups of all time, and his lightning fast mandolin work is often imitated to this day.

Bob Dylan has inarguably been one of the biggest contributors to American music of all time. As a songwriter, a storyteller, a musician and a poet, Dylan has had an extraordinary impact on American culture. He burst on the scene in the early 1960s and hasn't stopped influencing generations since, although some of his most timeless folk songs come from those early days: "Blowin' in the Wind," "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall," and "The Times They Are a-Changing."

Townes Van Zandt may not be the most famous American folk singer, but he's certainly been one of the most influential. His music has inspired countless other songwriters across the board, including rock, blues, country and folk artists. His exquisite command of simple poetic imagery and the overwhelming sadness that characterized his songs have brought many a budding songwriter to their knees.

Pete Seeger is, in short, an American treasure. Like Guthrie, he seems to have a natural gift for writing songs that, through simple instrumentation and literary, unpretensious lyrics, affect change and inspire people. His work has been covered by tons of other artists, including, most recently, rock artists like Bruce Springsteen and, most famously, the Byrds.

Phil Ochs makes this list for his awesome accomplishments in the area of protest music. Easily one of the most gifted topical songwriters in the history of American folk music, Ochs spared no one with his pen. He had a knack for utilizing the talking blues that Woody Guthrie made famous, and did just as well with slower, lyrical ballads and biting up-tempo ragtime tunes.

Paul Simon's roots straddle the line between mainstream pop music and contemporary folk, although his work with Art Garfunkel in the 70s was decidedly more on the folk end of the spectrum. During the 80s, he helped make folk-pop cool again by wining Grammy Awards for his outstanding solo album, Graceland. He continues to have an innovative impact on contemporary music by working in world music rhythms and influences into his smooth songwriting skills.

John Prine is one of the most gifted contemporary folk singer/songwriters. His smooth, lyrical melodies have inspired countless other songwriters, and his guitar skills are as impressive. His gift is for writing powerful narrative story-songs that are just as lovely as background music as they are in the fore.

James Taylor helped to usher in a wave of sensitive folk-pop singer/songwriters in the 1970s. His smooth-as-butter vocal stylings and nice narrative lyrics are less topical than emotionally charged. As an activist, though Taylor's work has been hugely effective, and his musicianship has inspired countless songwriters in pop and contemporary folk music.

Johnny Cash is another one of those artists who is generally counted among the influences of just about every songwriter working these days. Cash brought to old style country music a moxie and a daring that had not been seen to that point, as well as his early folk and rock influences. The result was a spin on rockabilly that so many contemporary folk and country singers are still trying to emulate.