I grew up in the 60's. We didn't tend to think in terms of genres (the Rolling Stones weren't the same as the Beatles, for example, but the difference wasn't one of genre). On the radio, you might hear "Happenings Ten Y ears Time Ago" by the Yardbirds (pre-Led Zeppelin) or "Walking My Cat Named Dog." You weren't likely to hear anything by the Velvet Underground, but they were in record stores. Nobody really thought something like "Is Freak Out by the Mothers of Invention really rock music?"

Bob Dylan wasn't the same as Woody Guthrie.

The Byrds weren't the same as Bob Dylan.

REM wasn't the same as the Byrds.

Any genre that's the same as it was 50 years ago is dead.

The fact that music evolves is evidence that it's still alive.