I had a phonograph, a german trophy. I spinned records and one day the spring failed and I spinned records with my index finger to the normal sound and voice I got used to hear and developed a great music hearing. I also had a harmonica that I just started playing choosing the right keys to pick up the songs I spinned.
When I tried to fix broken phonograph, the spring jumped off and tangled unmanagable!! It was the worst day of my life that put me onto child depression. My dad than went to the city and purchased my first tube radiola that was able to spin 16,33,45 and certainly 78rpm along with bunch of new records. I was listening and than picking them up on harmonica. At age of 8 I knew how to troubleshoot my tube radiola and replace tubes if spotted failing.
I did not become a musician. As my dad I'm more of the craftsman individual that would troubleshoot electronics, automobiles. Later at the age of 9 I went to music teacher, but had no courage practicing over the sheet music and quit. I guess musicians have to be sons or daughters of such to practice under the constant supervision from early childhood(please count out singers tho) otherwise it's hard to impossible. Having being exposed to the world of music, I clearly understand the difference between garage grown and professional musicians. Hence prefer to listen to the real ones unless the talent is so BIG like Paco De Lucia.
I've been collecting records since I was 8 and know about lots of bands, orchestras, composers, venues. Often attend the live music events. I don't really care about style of music as long as music is there. I believe that music should be supported by talent and skill to be listenable and pleasant.
My first artists I was devoted to Edith Piaf, Bill Haley, Glen Miller, Django Rainhardt, Buddy Rich, Mirelle Mathiew.