Folk rock dates from the mid 1960's, when The Byrds succesfully melded the sounds of the British invasion with traditional and contemporary ( mainly Dylan ) folk songs. In doing so they paved the way for follow-up bands like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and, more recently, R.E.M.
The Byrds own songwriting tended to veer towards the psychedilic, presaging bands like The Grateful Dead and Arthur Lee's Love, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane etc. while another ex-Byrd, Gram Parsons, created country rock, a style which was more than just electric country, but dealt with issues from the 60's counter-culture. Outfits like Poco, The Band, and The Eagles followed along this path, the music gradually losing it's gritty texture over time.

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