The first time I heard Eva Cassidy was in little bookstore in Northhamton, MA in 2002. We were taking our daughter to look at Smith College, and were looking around the town. Inside the bookstore were a pair of old Klipsch Cornwalls, and this haunting voice was singing "Woodstock" in a mesmerizing way. I just stood and listened.
I don't remember where I was when I first heard any other artist. But Eva was different.
Interesting that Mudslide posted his comment seconds before mine. We both chose the word "mesmerizing".