Originally Posted by swim

Blues can be just as traditional as folk. And folk can be just as personal and improvisational as blues (funny you mention Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger said that Woody could pick up a guitar play the longest cowboy ballad you ever heard and you'd never hear it again). I don't see either as distinguishing traits. Blues as we know it has taken its notes from american folk. Who's a pre-late 1800's blues artist?