darius rucker

Darius Rucker performing in 2004 Background information Born May 13, 1966 (1966-05-13) (age 42) Origin Charleston, South Carolina, USA Genre(s) Rock

R&B

Country Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter Instrument(s) Vocals

Rhythm guitar Years active 1986-present Label(s) Atlantic

Hidden Beach

Capitol Nashville Associated acts Hootie & the Blowfish

Darius Rucker (born May 13, 1966 in Charleston, South Carolina[1]) is an American musician. He is known mainly for his role as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, of which he has been a member since the band's inception in 1986.

Along with his work in Hootie & the Blowfish, Rucker has recorded two solo albums. The first, Back to Then, was released in 2002 on Hidden Beach Recordings. An album of country music entitled Learn to Live followed in 2008 on Capitol Records Nashville. This album also produced his first solo chart single in "Don't Think I Don't Think About It", which became the first Number One country hit by a solo African American artist since 1983. Following it was "It Won't Be Like This for Long" which became his second Number One hit in March 2009. Contents [hide] 1 Musical career 1.1 Country music 2 Discography 2.1 Albums 2.2 Singles 2.3 Other charted songs 2.4 Music videos 3 References 4 External links //

Musical career This section requires expansion with:

More context about Hootie & the Blowfish.

Rucker has been a member of Hootie & the Blowfish since their formation in 1986. He met fellow band members, Mark Bryan, Jim "Soni" Sonefeld, and Dean Felber, while attending the University of South Carolina. In 2001, he made his solo R&B debut album The Return of Mongo Slade for Atlantic Records. Because of contractual changes, it was never released by the label.[1] Hidden Beach Recordings, an independent label, acquired the masters from Atlantic, releasing the album as Back to Then in July 2002.[1]

Rucker also portrayed a singing cowboy in a television commercial for the fast food chain Burger King, promoting their TenderCrisp Bacon Cheddar Ranch sandwich in 2005. In the commercial, he sang a jingle set to the tune of "Big Rock Candy Mountain".[2]

Country music

In early 2008, Rucker signed to Capitol Records Nashville as the beginning of a career in country music. His first solo single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" (which he co-wrote with Clay Mills) debuted at #51 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts for the week of May 3, 2008. It is the first single from his second album, Learn to Live, which was produced by Frank Rogers.[3] Rucker also made his Grand Ole Opry debut in July 2008.[4]

"Don't Think I Don't Think About It" reached Top 20 on the country charts in July 2008, making him the first African-American singer to reach Top 20 on the country charts since Charley Pride in 1988.[5] The single reached Number One in September,[6] making Rucker the first solo African American artist to chart