If you think back then that only those who had money made music and formed groups, you must have no concept of folk music. Slaves were forming bands and writing

If you think back then that only those who had money made music and formed groups, you must have no concept of folk music. Slaves were forming bands and writing songs we still sing today (e.g. "Follow the Drinking Gourd" or "Where did you sleep last night" that Nirvana went on to cover); money wasn't a limiting factor like it is today with the need to market yourself and the prices of musical equipment.