The Highwaymen hit no. 1 with "Michael" and the Top 20 hit "Cotton Fields", both from 1961.
The Village Stompers went to no.2 with the instrumental "Washington Square" in 1963.
The Rooftop Singers took "Walk Right In" to no. 1,
Also in 1963. Trini Lopez and his version of "If I Had A Hammer" went to no. 3, in 1963 as well.
The Sandpipers had a Top 10 hit (1966) with "Guantanamera".
Bobby Darin had a "comback" of sorts with the folk-oriented hit (and classic; one of his best) If I Were A Carpenter", a no. 8 smash, also from 1966.
The Springfields had a Top 20 hit with "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" in 1962.( Dusty Springfield was a member.)
Gale Garnett was noted for the classic (and a bit ahead of its time!)1964 hit "We'll Sing In The Sunshine,", a no. 4 smash. "Walking My Cat Named Dog" was a Top 30 hit for
Norma Tanega. The Pozo-Seco Singers had two Top 40 hits, "I Can Make It With You"(1966) and "Look What You've Done"(1967). They also had the haunting ballad "Time". (Country star Don Williams was a member.)
The trio of Peter, Paul, and Mary staddled both worlds of comercial success and social committment. Albert Grossman (who was Bob Dylan's manager, launched one of the first folk clubs, and started the first Newport Folk Festival) created the group by putting together folk singer Peter Yarrow (who had a management contract with Grossman), stand-up comic Paul Stookey, and Broadway singer Mary Travers. And this is exactly what Grossman wanted; a visually appealing, across-the-broad look to make protest music acessible to the masses.
The group's first Top 40 hit was "Lemon Tree" (1962). "If I Had A Hammer" was their first Top 10, also from '62. Their debut album sold over 2 million copies. In 1963, they had a no.2 smash with "Blowin In The Wind" and the Top 10 hit "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right", both written by Bob Dylan. (See the connection? )
The trio's renditions helped greatly to bring Dylan national attention and acclaim.) There were other singers and musicians who were primarily or long established as "folkies". (They often participated in marches and protest demostrations, practicing what they preached.)
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