@BanjoBen I’m sensing something in your comment about punk rock…
Just One Band or Album
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I’ve been in a Balsam Range mood lately. Marc Pruett is one of my favorite banjo players, I was listening to him years ago. They are all great musicians.
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Doyle Lawson. Probably the “Help is on the way” album.
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These are some great answers and ideas!
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I’ve been listening to the Papertown album lately, I love the picking and the theme, as there’s several paper mills in my area. It probably doesn’t help I’m addicted to trains…
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“Will The Circle Be Unbroken. Vol I”
It’s not 100% bluegrass, but it sneaks it in there when you’re not looking and you like it before you know it’s “not cool.”
(Like Ben said, it depends on who you are sharing it with. I actually know people who hate bluegrass because they associate it with barrooms, but love gospel music bands that play banjo, guitar, bass & fiddle. But that’s not bluegrass. It’s gospel music.)
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If they are into country music, introduce them to a country artist that has made a bluegrass album. That way they’re not shell shocked when they hear the obnoxiousisity (I just made that word up) of the banjo player!
Seriously, there are countless country artists that have made bluegrass albums. One of my favorites is not too long ago when Alan Jackson made his debut Bluegrass CD titled “The Bluegrass Album”. It’s not hard core bluegrass like Flatt & Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, etc, but it’s really good music.
Some folks that aren’t into Bluegrass need to be gently eased into it.
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Isn’t that name taken? 
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I guess they were all so busy thinking of words to songs, that they didn’t have anything left for album titles!
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This is a good album by the way…top-notch pickers, Merle songs and a couple standards.
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I’d recommend Alan Jackson “The Bluegrass Album.” Why? Because Alan Jackson has name recognition and will likely pull one in who might not otherwise give bluegrass a chance. And by the way, it’s a fantastic album! Is this Rich from Sheridan by chance??
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Well if it was someone who likes gospel music, I’d probably recommend New Found Road, and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. They’re some of my favorites!
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The soundtrack to O’ Brother Where Art Thou.
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Yes Dave, this is Rich from Sheridan, Wyoming! It was great to meet you at camp!
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The first time our family heard bluegrass “defined” was at a Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver show in 2017. We still try to pattern our 6-piece band after their sound. It’s just the standard!
The 2010 “Light on My Feet, Ready to Fly” album is my personal favorite.
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These are all fantastic recommendations - I’m downloading them all!
I would be remiss if I didn’t add one (silly) recommendation myself . The Melting Pot Squirrel Stew band debuted at the October Cabin Camp! Yes, that’s right, members came together from Germany, Wyoming, Missouri, Alabama, and Louisiana to meld their talents into a potpourri of music sure to please every musical tastebud. @Wayne_H kicked off the Circle with a great intro and poured out some serious banjo chops on the first break. Becki vamped background banjo and was the secret sauce that held this dish together. Rich, Peter, and Wayne danced around the mic in a perfectly choreographed and efficient use of the main microphone, while @HeloSteve spiced up the performance with a great mandolin break and added vocals to the big finish. Rich and Peter blended their harmonized guitar parts on their break and swapped vocal parts throughout the song, adding to the nuanced complexity of this presentation. Yes, there were many cooks contributing to this stew, and this was one sweet recipe for success, hahahahaha!
Thanks to @Simone for the video and thanks to @BanjoBen for a great camp!
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I absolutely spaced on Kathy Mattea. She has an album called “Coal” and another by the name of “Calling me Home” that are both fantastic. Definitely worth a listen!
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I just re-re-listened to Steve Huber’s “Team Flathead” album today. It’s REALLY good. 13 tracks of traditional instrumental bluegrass; almost like hearing a top notch professional jam session. The team is:
Banjo- Steve Huber, Sammy Shelor, Jim Mills, Ron Stewart, John Lawless
Guitar- Kenny Smith
Mandolin- Alan Bibey
Fiddle- Ron Stewart
Bass- Andy Todd
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I thought I’d chime in on those who may be into Prog Rock and/or Jam Band fans… and I’d suggest Greensky Bluegrass, Yonder Mountain String Band and Trampled By Turtles.
Not exactly Traditional Bluegrass, I know… But like was said… give something that the listener might be able to relate to…
Another Crossover from Country that I might recommend is “Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars…” by Dwight Yoakam… or something by Marty Stuart- who always walks that crossover line anyway.
Gospel - why not Ben’s immensely talented sisters: The Purple Hulls!
Just to ease someone into an intro to an artist… How about Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss? this would be a gateway to getting the listener accustomed to Alison’s amazing voice.
For truly Traditional, I think my choice would be anything from early Flatt & Scruggs…
Great topic @Rich 
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