Folk rock is a mid‑1960s fusion genre that blends the acoustic‑driven songwriting and lyrical focus of traditional folk music with the electric instrumentation, backbeat, and studio production of rock. Originating simultaneously in the United States and United Kingdom, its first landmark hit was the Byrds’ June 1965 cover of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” which paired jangly 12‑string electric guitars and tight vocal harmonies with folk‑style melodies and socially conscious lyrics. Folk rock typically features straightforward chord progressions (often I–IV–V in 4/4 time), prominent acoustic guitar strums alongside electric guitars, bass, drums, and occasional harmonica or fiddle, and an emphasis on clear, melodic vocals. Beyond its American pioneers—Bob Dylan, the Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel, Buffalo Springfield, and Crosby, Stills & Nash—the style spawned British folk rock (Fairport Convention, Pentangle), Celtic rock, and later Americana and singer‑songwriter movements, leaving an enduring imprint on popular music.