2009 History in the Making
Darius Rucker has released three music videos this year from his 2008 album, Learn to Live. Please enjoy his newest video, "History in the Making," in this edition of Then & Now.
2008 Learn to Live
On his latest solo album, Rucker explored his country influences, and Learn to Live found an appropriate home among country music fans--who sent both the album and its flagship single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It," to the top of the Billboard country charts.
2005 Looking for Lucky
Rucker revisited Hootie & the Blowfish between his two solo albums, releasing three albums with the band: the self-titled Hootie & the Blowfish in 2003, Looking for Lucky in 2005 and Live in Charleston in 2006.
2002 Back to Then
Rucker's Back to Then was his formal debut as a solo artist. He explored his R&B and Soul influences and features singer Jill Scott on "Sometimes I Wonder," and rapper Snoop Dogg on "Sleeping In My Bed."
1998 Musical Chairs
Musical Chairs was released in 1998 followed by the album Scattered, Smothered, and Covered two years later, featuring previously unreleased material, songs polled by the fans, and Hootie & the Blowfish's tributes to R.E.M. and the Smiths.
1996 Fairweather Johnson
Fairweather Johnson entered the Billboard charts at number one in the Spring of 1996 and sold more than two million copies in the next four months.
1994 Cracked Rear View
Hootie & the Blowfish released their first album, Cracked Rear View, in the fall of 1994 and the extremely popular singles "Hold My Hand," "Let Her Cry," and "Only Wanna Be With You," boosted the album to number one on Billboard's charts the following year.
1989 Hootie & the Blowfish
Hootie & the Blowfish formed at the University of South Carolina in 1989. The group featured lead vocalist/guitarist Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim "Soni" Sonefeld. Hootie & the Blowfish were named after two friends of the band--not Rucker and the group.
1966 Beginnings
Rucker was born and raised in Charleston, SC and was exposed to the sounds of Otis Redding, Al Green, and Gladys Knight at an early age which helped to shape the soulful, baritone sound of Hootie & the Blowfish and his solo career.