The Cantrells

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The Cantrells met in 1981 when Al joined Emily's bluegrass band in Boulder, Colo. Al had briefly studied violin in grade school but gravitated to rock n' roll and found his way to country music through Grateful Dead versions of Merl Haggard songs. Eventually he took up with swing style fiddlers one would hear at the national contest in Idaho. Emily seemed destined for a musical life since playing piano and singing with her brother at a very early age, and showing a propensity for writing good songs as she matured musically. The couple was part of that migration of musical currents from Colorado to Nashville that included Tim O'Brien, with whom Emily recorded, and Al and Emily live in that town.