Darius Rucker wins New Artist of the Year at "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards," on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on the ABC Television Network. Photographer: Donn Jones / CMA.
A certain amount of irony accompanied Darius Rucker’s victory as New Artist of the Year at Wednesday’s 43rd annual CMA Awards. He is, under the Country Music Association’s voting rules, a new artist to the genre, though he’s hardly new to the music business. He experienced the big time before as the lead singer for Hootie + The Blowfish.
Still, he’s done such a good job of reinventing himself that he’s now begun to encounter fans who know nothing of his history. That became clear when he played a concert in Houston. Two women stood throughout the show singing all of his songs verbatim, but when Darius launched into “Let Her Cry,” from the 16-times-platinum Cracked Rear View, they sat down.
“They had no idea what I was playing — no clue what it was!” Darius told The Maryville Daily Times in East Tennessee. “I just laughed. All I could think was, ‘Wow.’ There’s just a whole new generation getting turned on to Learn To Live, I found out that night. But still, it was just funny to me, man. I couldn’t stop looking at them.”
With three No. 1 singles and the CMA victory under his belt, Darius has already exceeded his expectations with the Learn To Live album, though the seeds were sewn a couple decades ago when he first heard the music of Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd while working at a record store in college.
“I was never early — it was so bad that when I was supposed to come in at 1 p.m., my boss would write down one-ish,” he said. “Well, I was watching TV one day in my apartment, and Foster & Lloyd’s video for ‘Crazy Over You’ came on. I remember it was like the first time I saw R.E.M. — it was just huge. I sat there watching that song, and I got up and got dressed and went into work two hours early, because I had to find that song. I probably played it 20 times that day, and from that first day, I realized I could really sing to this music as well.”
Obviously, plenty of other folks agree. In addition to his win at the industry-voted CMAs, Darius is up for the fan-voted American Music Award for Favorite Male Country Artist against Jason Aldean and Keith Urban. The victor will be announced Nov. 22.
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I liked Hootie and the Blowfish but my FAVORITE song is "Alright" by Darius Rucker.
It's about DAMN time that there's a successful black man representing us in Country Music. There is nothing wrong with being a little bit different. I am a white Jewish guy from Brooklyn, NY. You don't find too many New Yorkers that listen to Country Music and especially NOT Jewish people, lol. I'm 2 for the price of 1 unique, haha. ;-D
Race has nothing to do with it, it's called TALENT! HELL0!
He deserves his recognition, because of his TALENT!
I hope he hops back and forth from his solo career and Hootie like Phil Collins did for awhile with Genesis and his solo stuff. Ultimately, I still think he will still be remembered more for Hootie because they are a great band who I hope will still have more hits in the future.
You've got to be kidding me, you people bringing up race! Darius Rucker is a naturally talented singer and songwriter who has worked his carft over the years, playing in little joints, on college campuses, coffeehouses, etc. This guy is not a show-off and by all accounts is humble and lives a low-key kind of life. He was earned the respect he's getting for his artistry.
I really thought it was another guy with the same name but how many people name their son Darius and he'd just happen to have that same voice as Mr Rucker
It's his voice… his voice… HIS VOICE not his skin color. Give the man credit to his VOICE, not his skin color. Jeez, does it really matter the skin we come wrapped in or our talents and heart?
well kiss my grits…it's charley Pride!!
Because they are black ??? Because they are black ????????????? HELLO Why did Bush win? Yep, you got it, The same way he lost, NO TALENT! Oh yeh, Taylor Swift won because she is white.
if there would have been a black chick nominated….she would have won….believe it!…..everyone seems to want to show they are "beyond" race, and by doing so make it "about race."
Dude, It's 2009. GET OVER IT ALREADY! Effing retard.
You know not everything is about race. Couldn't it be that they are just good at what they do? I mean look at a couple of years ago when Faith Hill lost to Carrie Undrwood for female artist of the year. Carrie just did a better job and got the reward that she so deserved, It all comes down to us the fans and who we like that gets nominated. So how many cds to you own by someone you like that has won a nomination? __
oh, and if looking hip and posturing in front of a teleprompter is talent…..well…then I guess your boy obama has talent…..geez……style over substance…
I remember the first time I heard Darius on country radio. I knew it was him before the DJ ever said it, and I for one was thrilled to hear him again. His voice and style are timeless and great to listen to. Toss in the fact that he seems to be a genuinely good person and I couldn't care less if he's black, white, Latino or Chinese. Good music is good music, regardless of who it comes out of.
Rucker won cause he's black. the CMA is a microcosm of our society. Obama won cause he's black. Political correctness run amuck.
It's "amok".
Tell your friends.
No one seems to be able to spell this one.
Rucker has real talent; when I heard his first country song, I didnt know who was singing it. I said 'this is really good stuff" and I was not too surprised when I heard who it was. As 'Hootie' he was great too… Talent is talent! Race is not a factor.
Beau, you blow!
come on, give him some credit, he's good.
You are an idiot
Rucker won because he deserved it. Obama won because of idiots like you who voted for him because they didn't know better
met him once in a bar in columbia, he was just there as patron watching some members of fishbone playing a set. we offered him a shot of purple hooters, he said thats a sissy drink and bought us goldslaugher, he's a cool dude
Uh, that's goldschlager.
Fishbone!!!!???
K, Rucker is WAAAAY cooler then I ever gave him credit for
"dying for art"…………a heroin needle in a bath tub is "dying for art"?……. there is nothing "artsy" about death from addiction..
That was a movie you toad. Didn't your mother tach you the difference between watch you see on TV and in a movie versus reality?
Ive been in love with darius since 19@#. To me he was "Hootie". N E way I too still listen to the old stuff have not tapped into the new stuff but will! Keep it up dude! Oh yeah please stop by Winston-Salem NC sometime, we'd luv to have ya!
Txagg above summed it up well… Darius Rucker was lucky to have Hootie and The Blowfish for a star vehicle to showcase his talents and gain exposure. It's sad that this generation is being sold a "bill of goods" that Miley Cyrus and Jonas Brothers are rock star talent? Good heavens…Where are the Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison of this generation who are willing to die for their art? Amy Winehouse seems to be our only hope…Darius Rucker seems to be one of the genuine nice guys and we all wish him well in his endeavors, but remember the people on the way up are the same people on the way down And you bet your last dollar you will see Darius on the Hootie and the Blowfish reunion tour at a county fair near you.
there is nothing romantic or artsy about the drug induced deaths of Morrison, hendrix, etc…………..their deaths as addicts had nothing to do with music…
I grew up listening to Hootie and the Blowfish on the radio and I always loved them, so I was beyond excited when I found out Darius Rucker started singing country.
I think he's done an incredible job and I wish him the best of success.
I'm glad I know both sides! I went to college on Hootie and The Blowfish and STILL love the "Cracked Rearview" album. Don't ever fail to acknowledge where you started because Hootie really was a great band. Congratulations on all your success both past and present.
I really like you since you have gone out on your own and started singing.I really like your voice.It is good to see a black man in country music.