Kheesha AbreuRock & Roll in American SocietyMUH 3023 001Spring 2014I chose to write my article about Darius Rucker because when I was younger my uncle always played me songs by Hootie & the Blowfish. My favorite song is "I Only Want To Be With You" released in 1994 from the album Cracked Rear View. I still listen to their old albums, although I now prefer Darius Rucker's songs as a solo country music artist more than Hootie & the Blowfish. He went from being an American rock band to a solo country singer and has been in the charts ever since. Darius has accomplished many wonderful things, one of which is being "the first country music singer to have his first three #1 singles since Wynona Judd in 1992." I'll talk about Darius' career as a member of Hootie & the Blowfish, his career as a solo artist, and why I like him. Here's some background information on Darius Rucker and the band he formed in college. Darius was born on May 13, 1966; he was raised by a single mother and was one of six children. As a child, Darius sang in his church choir and was a member of his high school choir. After graduating from high school he attended the University of South Carolina, where the band Hootie & the Blowfish was formed in 1986. It is said that Mark Bryan, a member of the band, heard Darius singing in the shower and the two became a duo. , called the Wolf Brothers, before adding the other two members. Dean Felber joined and then in 1989 Jim "Soni" Sonefeld joined, officially forming Hootie & the Blowfish. The band was signed to Atlantic Records and recorded six albums; all albums contained songs written by Darius, Mark and Felber. “The group's blusey harmonica solos work in tandem with Rucker's de... middle of paper...... Wagon Wheel, Radio, Lost in you and Lie to me) on repeat and I never get bored . My uncle introduced me to Hootie & the Blowfish when I was younger, but I didn't continue to listen to Darius that much, until I heard "Don't Think I Don't Think About It." Once I heard that song, I was hooked; I started looking for more of his songs and that's when I realized he was the lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish. As I said before, I prefer his country albums over those of his rock bands. It might have to do with the fact that I'm a country music lover, but I find myself singing more and getting more into country music. Works Cited"About," Darius Rucker Official Website, http://www.dariusrucker.com (April 29, 2009). “Darius Rucker,” The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/darius-rucker-224910 (accessed March 11, 2014).