Opry At The Ryman With Darius Rucker
Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images
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Today's catch of the day comes to us from an artist who crossed over from rock to become a record setting country artist, and did it all with a southern state of mind.

Darius Rucker originally came into the spotlight as the lead singer of the 90's band Hootie & The Blowfish, who's 1994 album Cracked Rear View set records for a debut album worldwide. After the initial success of Hootie faded, the band, college friends from the University of South Carolina, parted ways amicably in 2008, calling it a "hiatus" instead of a break-up.

Rucker's venture into the country music world was a natural transition, as he grew up listening to country music in Charleston, SC. The music of Rucker's youth definitely influenced Hootie's sound and provided the impetus to his jump in 2008. With his debut single "Don't Think I Don't Think About It", Rucker became the first solo African-American artist since Charlie Pride in 1983 to score a #1 hit on the country chart.

Darius Rucker @ the Annual 2015 CMT Upfront
photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images Entertainment
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Rucker followed it by being named the Best New Artist award from the CMA, a first by an African-American artist and the first African-American to win a CMA award since Pride won for Male Vocalist of the Year in 1972. Pride and Rucker are the only two African-American performers to be honored by the Country Music Association.

 

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Darius is now firmly rooted in country music and his 4th solo album, Southern Style, released in March, has been certified gold and produced the #1 hit "Homegrown Honey". The album's title track and second single is in our spotlight today. "Southern Style" is your Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.

 

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