this thread certainly has been fun to read!
one comment-- the people we honor most as the "traditional" players-- to me they seem to be innovators with a traditional style! the ones I most honor: Bill Monroe, all three Carters, Charlie Poole, Leadbelly, Woody, all of them sounded like their roots, yet you knew it was their music; they wre adding something else!
two questions: (1) Rick, in your list of "spangled suits" at the Opry, you said "Faron" a name I don't recognize. What have i been missing? (2) also to Rick-- could you let us know the next time Kitty Wells comes to Ontario? I bet I could organize an expedition.
I would second Dwight Diller's comments although I have to say that I have learned much more listening to old records than I have lsitening to older musicians directly; YMMV. Some of the revivalists have done a wonderful job of learning and listening-- start with Cohen, Seeger (M) Paley and Schwarz; go on to Mac Benford and Jody Stecher, lesser known but wonderful is VGO down in Florida or Clark Buehling in Arkansas. . . Kay Justice and Ginny Hawker. . . where to stop?