Sonny Rollins was in fact one of the first jazz players that I have listened to,as a child, as my father had this album that he listened (still got that record) Its 'S.R. and contemporary players'
It was not so 'hard' sounding, so later when I start discovering more I bought these albums. At that time, I was coming out from listening 'rock' music, so this album also had a certain appeal, sound that resembled to certain prog rock music that I've listened (and got over it.)
S.R.'Horn Culture'
That led to his live 'Cutting Edge' album
Later got the one with Coleman Hawkins and that was it. Like Coltrane (have to admit) it was too much for me at the time and aldo I went back to him few times, his sound was never to my liking.
I would say that lots of my jazz records that I bought first were from 70's jazz, music that somewhat sounded (to me anyway at the time) like 'rock' music of that era. As I have continued to listen jazz, I started more and more to appreciate 'older' stuff, first from 60's and than to 50's and still I have not returned to that 70's jazz sound.
One album of Dizzy Gillespie, from that period, one of the firsts I have bought called 'Real Thing'. When you listen it, you will know what I mean about that 'rock' conection that I speak about.