My experience was very similar to yours. I got a Sylvania transistor radio when I was around 12 years old, @1958, and sleeping in a room that was detached from the rest of the house so my listening was completely unsupervised. We lived on the South Plains of Texas, 3000 ft. elevation, cloudless skies and very few radio stations close by. I could get AM stations from all over the country, depending on atmospheric conditions, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Nashville, Chicago, the border-blaster stations from along the Mexican border and others. So it was a mix of country, rockabilly, rock, blues and gospel, along with the 'put your hands on the radio' evangelists. It gave me an deep appreciation for all kinds of music, though any experience with classical came along considerably later.
Roots, ie: how did your music/sound/audio life/listening begin?
With all the high-end I have had, Magnepan, ARC, Bryston, Conrad Johnson, and many others....my music listening beginning was very humble. For Christmas when I was about 11, or so, my parents bought me a "higher end" Montgomery Ward table radio and a small "transistor" radio for under my pillow to go to sleep by. Many "things" throughout the years, but that table radio was the beginning...and it was Rock and Roll. WLS out of Chicago, KAAY out of Little Rock, KIOA out of Des Moines....and more. My maturation process began in the Air Force and my discovery of a love for Jazz and female vocals (a tip of the hat to time in New Orleans). So I believe a Wards radio started my addiction. It is either odd or crazy for me to have interconnects that cost more than some "systems" I have owned. Of the other addictions or hobbies/interests I have had, audio has given me the lowest cost per hour and the most shared with family and friends.