He’s played the stages of the Apollo Theater and the Grand Ole Opry.
Those diverse musical styles are evidence as to why 44-year-old Darius Rucker has successfully reinvented himself from rocker frontman for Hootie and the Blowfish in the 1980s to country music’s hottest “new” star.
Did you know* Rucker is a longtime friend of Tiger Woods; he sang at Woods’ wedding.* The late Frank Sinatra invited Rucker to sing for his 80th birthday party.* Rucker is a Miami Dolphins fan.* He allegedly has seen the movie “Stir Crazy” more than 100 times.Source: Internet sitesTONIGHT’S SCHEDULECoke Stage 9:30-11 p.m. Darius RuckerBud Light Stage5-6 p.m. T-Ran6:15-7:30 p.m. Honey Island Swamp Band7:45-9 p.m. David NailUnum Stage6:30-7:45 p.m. Leah Seawright8-9:15 p.m. Janiva Magness9:30-11 p.m. Tab BenoitTennessee Lottery Stage5:30-6:30 p.m. The Grinnin’ Mules6:45-7:45 p.m. The Cadillac Saints11 p.m.-midnight Target AudioTN Valley Credit Union Stage6:15-7:30 p.m. Eagles Club Countrymen Band7:45-9 p.m. Tom Russell9:15-10:30 p.m. Maia Sharp
Not only did country music fans embrace his music, Rucker’s debut — to borrow one of his song titles — was history in the making.
Rucker’s bittersweet debut ballad, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” reached No.1, making him the first black singer to crack the country Top 20 since Charley Pride in 1983.
Rucker went on to have his first three singles from “Learn to Live” score No. 1, the first country music singer to do so since Wynonna in 1992, according to Billboard.
Much was made over that feat, but Rucker said in a telephone interview this week that he didn’t make the CD with a goal of breaking racial barriers.
“I just made the record because it was the record I wanted to make. Nobody cared what color I was, they just liked the song,” he said.
Since then, Rucker has won the Country Music Association’s Horizon Award, given to the industry’s best new artist.
Noting the irony of an established musician winning a new artist honor, Rucker said “to me it was a cool thing for the country community to tell me that they liked what I’m doing. I thought it was awesome. I was ecstatic. I didn’t expect it.”
The singer is currently touring with Brad Paisley on the H2O tour through the end of this year. He and Paisley have recorded a duet that will be included on Rucker’s new album due out in October.
Riverbend fans will get a preview of that CD tonight when Rucker sings “Come Back Song.” The single is set to hit radio on June 28.
“It’s an up-tempo song about that guy who knows he messed up in his relationship. He knows he did wrong,” said Rucker.
The star said Hootie fans won’t leave disappointed tonight; they’ll hear some of their favorites as well.
“Absolutely. I think I’d be running people off if I didn’t do a couple of Hootie songs every night. I’m proud of what we did.”