Conversation so far:
What were beginning years like for the band?
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was founded around 1966 in Long Beach, California.
Who were the founding members of the band?
singer-guitarist Jeff Hanna and singer-songwriter guitarist Bruce Kunkel.

Question: What was the genre or style of music they chose to play?
Self-contained rewrite: What was the genre or style of music the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band chose to play?