I did it the opposite; I explored different pianists, and discovered rep through them.
For me too. I bought a bunch of those Decca boxsets as intros.
I think all of my piano intros have been surpassed. Perhaps not Kondrashin’s Scheherazade.
I agree Tony - Kondrashin’s Scheherazade is still the gold standard as far as I’m concerned.
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My first rec for a lot of violin repertoire came from buying lots of Heifetz recz.
And actually, most haven’t been surpassed.
Random samples
First 
TEz - da bullet, surpassed by just about everyone
First HRz - Szzzzzzzzzzzidon. Nuff said.
First 
rec - da doc kancerto, not surpassed.
First 
2 - da rectum, not surpassed
First Totentanz - Zimerman, good but surpassed by Ziff and Mickey.
Tru, da average Chinese schoolgirl can outfury da bullet in any TE.
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And Golovanov, mofo!
There are a few firsts that I still have a soft spot for:
Rachmaninoff 2nd concerto: Gutierrez - which I still consider top 10, even though it’s not particularly unique.
Rachmaninoff 3rd concerto: Orozco - still a beast of an interp. I love it.
Prokofiev 2nd: Gutierrez - Amazing.
Liszt 1 and 2: Richter - undisputed legendary recs.
Brahms Quintet: Jando - Surprisingly holds up quite well, more due to Takacs’ playing than Jando, perhaps.
Brahms 1st Concerto: Gould/Adler - Still in my top 3
Brahms 2nd Concerto: Ashkenazy/Haitink - I know it’s not a great rec, but it still feels right to me. Not in my top 20, however.
Liszt Sonata: Gilels/RCA Studio - Definitely one of the best studio accounts, however not likely in my top 10 anymore.
Bach Goldbergs: Arrau - Still in my top 3.
Chopin Sonata 2 and 3: Kapell - Unsurpassed, now and forever.
Schumann Symphonic Etudes: Richter BBC - Still my #1, though I listened to it so much during my first month of university back in 2003 that I actually get anxiety deja vu when I listen to it 
Ravel Concertos: Zimerman - Definitely still in my top 3
Beethoven Concerto 4: Arrau/Haitink - Love this rec. Probably still top 5.
Scriabin Sonatas 2 & 4: Fiorentino - still my favourites
Medtner Night wind: Berezovsky Live - I’ll never tire of this rec. Wish he didn’t cut the 2nd mov though.
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Ah yes, da Git prok 2 my first and fav.
Brahms quintet I cant go past the live Curzon. No one whips up the ending like they do. (Also my first rec).
My first Chop zons were her. And I think I may have even started with no.1. 
Cortot saw something in her. (Maybe literally?)
Any early decent early recs?