As a kid raised on '80s mainstream country and always thinking there had to be something better out there, hearing Jay Farrar sing "Windfall" for the first time was a deeply satisfying watershed moment.  After that, I read up on Son Volt and Wilco and got my first copies of Trace and A.M.  The former, I thought, was terrific.  The latter had some nice enough pop-country textures, but didn't really blow me away.  I remembered seeing a piece on Uncle Tupelo in Rolling Stone a few years before this, so I decided to give them a try.  I'll always be glad I did.  I knew as soon as I heard them that this was my band.  I haven't looked back since.  

Actually, I have looked back.  If it wasn't for Uncle Tupelo, I might never have sought out a lot of the artists I'm listening to today--everyone from the Carter Family and Leadbelly to Black Flag, the Minutemen, and the Replacements.  You hear people say that hearing this or that band changed their life, and sometimes it makes you wonder.  But I would venture to say that Uncle Tupelo is directly or indirectly responsible for at least 60% of the albums in my CD collection.   And I bet I'm not the only one who can say that.  So thanks for that, Jay, Jeff, and Mike.  Thanks for Buck Owens, Gram Parsons, the Clash, and many, many others.  I might never have given any of them a chance but for you guys.

That, to me, makes Uncle Tupelo an important band.

Has anyone else out there been influenced by a particular band or artist this way?  I'd love to hear your stories.