Flatt and Scruggs were able to change their style a bit and plug into that outlet. Ever since, bluegrass and the Dobro guitar have been a part of the folk and acoustic music scene. Still, in most situations, the Dobro is last hired and first fired. It has an amazing range of tone for an acoustic instrument and is unmatched in its vocal-like qualities. I fell in love with the sound years before I had a chance to see what one looked like.
Most players learn dobro through bluegrass and country music.
However Hawaiian and Western swing musics featured some of the greatest six string steel performer ever. Any serious student of the Dobro should become familiar with these genres. In the 1920's and '30's Sol Hoopii and Bob Kaii recorded some masterpieces on National tricone. Hoopii pioneered the first tuning variations and went on to play on different style of electric lap steels. His technique is still unsurpassed.