As a kid I had parents listening to terrible Dutch music and a brother who liked Sting. Not much of a good start... A neighbour was into Dire Straits and Queen, which was a bit more rock 'n roll...
The first time I really saw the light (and it really felt like that!) was when I saw The Blues Brothers as a youngster. Even when I wasn't a bassist yet, I loved Duck Dunn's lines, though I hadn't a clue who it was and how important the guy was.
The second time I saw the light was when I accidently ran into The Last Waltz on tv, right in the middle of the 'We ain't paying you much, but you'll get more pussy than Frank Sinatra' part. 'Quite interesting'I thought and I watched the movie.
It was only some years ago I realized all the music I like is soul based. The Who, The Jam, The Band, The Small Faces, Paul Weller, The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, STAX and a Dutch guy named Herman Brood. I also discovered they accidently (sometimes...) did a lot of the same covers.
Weller and Brood both did There Ain't No Love by Bobby Bland and Heatwave.
Heatwave was also done by The Who.
The Who and Brood were both into Mose Allison (which I love|).
Of course Weller did lots of Who and TSF songs...
The Band, Brood and The Who all did Don't Do It.
And so on...
A while ago I spotted a similarity between 'Love Spreads' by The Stone Roses and B Movie Box Car Blues as performed by the Blues Brothers on their first cd, before the movie.
Back to the point: I don't know if the Blues Brothers started my love of soul or it was already in me, bu that movie meant a lot to me!