My next ‘Folk Rock Derivative’ artist is both a perfect example of the genre and an argument for scrapping the concept of musical categorization altogether.

Nobody can argue that Paul Simon isn’t a folk rock artist — the man practically invented the genre when paired with Art Garfunkel in the 60s. But he has since explored so many different styles — from gospel and jazz to a few continents worth of world music — that one could be a huge Paul Simon fan and have no affinity for folk rock whatsoever.

As for my other categories: Simon made memorable use of a piano on ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ but he’s a guitar man, and one of the best. He has dabbled in doo-wop and country and a dozen other genres but he doesn’t belong in my ‘Pure Pop’ or ‘Country Plus’ categories.

But he’s a shoo-in for the ‘Melancholy’ group, thanks to such sadly beautiful tracks as ‘Sounds of Silence,’ ‘April Come She Will,’ ‘America,’ ‘The Only Living Boy in New York,’ ‘Slip Slidin’ Away’ and dozens of others. He’s a master of the form.

After three weeks, that brings my number of two-category artists to five. I also have five one-category, four three-category and one zero-category artist on the list. And even with four weeks to go, I’m already starting to see some patterns emerge.