The first time I saw Hootie and the Blowfish I was at the old Rockafellas in the Five Points district of downtown Columbia, S.C. (many years before it turned into a violent mini-Chicagoland). I went to the show with a former female church leader who liked to give wildly inappropriate back rubs, which made it all the more awesome.
Anyway, there were seriously 12 people there … if that.
Several years later, of course, Hootie hit the big time (and then some) following the release of their debut album Cracked Rear View, which is one of the Top 20 best selling albums in music history. The band’s lead singer, Darius Rucker, has since embarked on a successful solo career – first as an R&B performer and more recently as a country singer. In fact last year he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
An avid sports fan, Rucker appeared on ESPN’s College Gameday last season when it paid a visit to the University of South Carolina “Horseshoe” – site of the band’s 1996 MTV Unplugged performance. And this month Rucker was honored by his alma mater with an honorary doctorate of music (above).
Props to “Dr. Hootie.”
He is living the dream held by so many of us aspiring musicians.
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24 comments
I really like Rucker, but I’m partial to the Hootie and the Blowfish days. I don’t like his new country songs so much, but that’s just personal taste. Good for him for doing his thing.
I really like Rucker, but I’m partial to the Hootie and the Blowfish days. I don’t like his new country songs so much, but that’s just personal taste. Good for him for doing his thing.
if one more person says that they like wagon wheel now that darius covers it IMMA SCREAM. but i will always love hootie.
Wagon Wheel, wagon wheel, wagon wheel!!!! This song has been done so much lately it’s like Happy Birthday. Besides Old Crow Medicine Show did it best.
if one more person says that they like wagon wheel now that darius covers it IMMA SCREAM. but i will always love hootie.
Wagon Wheel, wagon wheel, wagon wheel!!!! This song has been done so much lately it’s like Happy Birthday. Besides Old Crow Medicine Show did it best.
” I went to the show with a former female”. I always suspected that Sic Willie liked kinky.
” I went to the show with a former female”. I always suspected that Sic Willie liked kinky.
Rucker’s a stand-up guy.
Rucker’s a stand-up guy.
The commencement address that Darius gave was one of the best I have ever heard at USC. Very down to earth yet had a great message at the same time.
I was there and it was great.
The commencement address that Darius gave was one of the best I have ever heard at USC. Very down to earth yet had a great message at the same time.
I was there and it was great.
We did have some great bars back in Five Points back in the day. I believe I saw Hootie and the Blowfish the first time at the Elbow Room of course before closing down the night next door
We did have some great bars back in Five Points back in the day. I believe I saw Hootie and the Blowfish the first time at the Elbow Room of course before closing down the night next door
He’s been a pretty good guy all along and I am happy he is one of us. How he avoided scandal, substance abuse, tax problems and all the usual crap afflicting t the typical musician is amazing.
He’s been a pretty good guy all along and I am happy he is one of us. How he avoided scandal, substance abuse, tax problems and all the usual crap afflicting t the typical musician is amazing.
Very cool…
Very cool…
I wonder if that lame former one term governor,Beasley, knows who “Hootie” is now?
I wonder if that lame former one term governor,Beasley, knows who “Hootie” is now?
Rucker was bestowed the Order of the Arrow by Governor Beasley and declined it, after that, I declined hearing his music.
Rucker was bestowed the Order of the Arrow by Governor Beasley and declined it, after that, I declined hearing his music.