Growing up, I listened to predominantly rock and metal. Mostly death metal, grind, and other forms of "extreme" metal. Also a lot of hardcore. I thought I
hated anything which could be considered "country" music (I realize Bluegrass may not be considered "country" depending on definition).
Then, when I was shooting some video footage in the ghost town of New Idria, CA, one night camping, a Preservation Project volunteer began playing a banjo after we ate dinner, sitting around the campfire. I didn't know it at the time, but this guy played in the progressive style of the late 70s (I think he must have been a fan on Béla Fleck). Anyway, I was immediately hooked.
From there I was recommended by a bunch of vinyl heads a direct-to-disc vinyl recording of a
Larry McNeely's album
Confederation (out of print but not impossible to find, also excellent). From there I discovered Béla Fleck himself, was introduced to the broader world of progressive bluegrass and acoustic fusion. Now, Bluegrass is probably 75%+ of what I listen to.
I also have come to like all sorts of country, with the exception of 99% of anything they play on the radio.
