Since I can remember I have had a preference for songs that told stories and was drawn to Burl Ives when he was on the radio. I was 12 when REA reached our farm and it was several years later when we had television and I began to hear Harry Belefonte on occasion plus a dulcimer player named Dierdre (or something like that). I saw her only once and never heard of her again. Though my mother knew several old songs I did not have any contact with traditional musicians as I was growing up. There were several guitars in the family and I took possession of one however it was not playable.
Though I still enjoy a variety of music folk music is still the most important.