I was born into a musical Southern Appalachian family. My first influences were the old songs sung by my mother and my older sisters, and my father, who was a dulcimer maker. I don't remember when I didn't play guitar, autoharp and dulcimer and sing, and by the age of 13 I was playing at festivals. I think I really became aware of the history and richness of my musical heritage when I was about 14, and I began a lifelong love affair with mountain music history. I wanted to know where the songs came from and what they meant, and that lead me to my Scottish ancestry and my love of "Celtic" (for want of a better word) music. I guess if I had to choose a recording that was pivotal for me, I'd have to say Joan Baez's "Ballad Book" album that I got when I was 14 and still have 33 years later.