If you have never heard bluegrass music, you have been missing out on one of the most cultural musical genres of the century.
If you have never heard "High Cotton" bluegrass band music, you are in for a surprisingly sweet sound.
Every week "High Cotton" gets together in Mike Blanton's living room to practice their set and discuss where they are going to be playing next.
Beyond that, there isn't much conversation. When there is conversation, it's only about one thing: Bluegrass.
"The first time I saw 'Deliverence' I knew I wanted to sound like that," Blanton said. "The Beverly Hillbillies also had a good sound that really liked."
Mike Blanton, who plays banjo, started the band 30 years ago with fellow musician Don Copeland.
But Copeland, who is now an experienced acoustic guitarist, didn't exactly call himself a musician back then.
"I could only play three chords when I first started. If it hadn't been for Mike, I never would have played music," Copeland said.
Otis Pollitt, who plays bass for the band has a different dynamic than Copeland.
Pollitt has been a musician for over 60 years but didn't start with the band until a couple of years ago. Pollitt never forgot his start in music.
"I was 12 years old when I started playing for people," Pollitt said.
Back then, if you wanted to see a movie and didn't have any money, you would have an act on stage before the movie started.
"My act was guitar."
The band speaks to each other as though they are all one family.
The familial unity is actually one of the things that makes the band so darn good to listen to.
Amanda Cook is one of the younger members of the group and is a big advocate of "staying together like a family."
Cook started playing mandolin in 2006 and often adds a tempered harmony sound to the bands music.
"Female singers are rare," said Cook. "I think that's why we have such a unique sound."
So unique that "High Cotton" was named Florida Bluegrass Champions in 2009. They won two trophies, one for instrumentation and one for voice.
The band goes to the "Pickin In The Pines" festival every year to try and win the award again.
They have even released their own album which can be purchased by going to their website at highcottonbluegrass.com.
Pollitt encourages people to listen to bluegrass as much as they can. He says its more than what your used to listening to.
"Bluegrass will lift you up. It will lift your soul," said Pollitt.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Picking High Cotton