Those "folk musicians" were professionals. Harry Smith's folk anthologies were just compilations of commercial music from the 20s and 30s made by a professiona

Those "folk musicians" were professionals. Harry Smith's folk anthologies were just compilations of commercial music from the 20s and 30s made by a professional record industry. Sure, Alan Lomax went out and did some field recordings, but the really great gospel and country blues musicians were definitely getting paid. The songsters of the 19th century were professionals who toured with medicine shows. All those geniuses? They had the raw talent, yes, but also the opportunity given by societal structures to hone their skills.