Darius Rucker: From Hootie to Now

Of the many artists that you can meet over time there are only a few who’ve seen crossover success in the mainstream. No one has even done better than the singer-songwriter who ruled the 1990s, Darius Rucker. Performing as the frontman for his roots rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, it seemed impossible to escape Rucker’s music. Though, audiences didn’t expect that the singer would leap on his own. The solo career of Rucker had reached heights that no other African American achieved before since Charley Pride. From there on, Rucker’s dual role in his career became paramount as he ushered in a new era for roots and country.

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The South Carolina native started his life as one of the youngest of 14 other children in his household. Financial struggles and an overcrowded house couldn’t contain the love of music for his family. Rucker spent many hours imitating the stage presence of Kenny Rogers in front of his bathroom mirror while also practicing for the high school choir. However, the idea of making a career off singing live shows wouldn’t be expressed until he started school at the University of South Carolina. There, he met future bandmates Mark Bryan, Jim Sonefeld and Dean Felber who shared his ambition and musical tastes. The group would name themselves Hootie & the Blowfish, the nicknames from beloved classmates, and tour the college scene of the south.

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