Darius Rucker Aims to Extend Win Streak with 'Charleston'

 

Darius Rucker admits such the pressure's on, but he doesn't mind. The primitive trigonous singles from his 2008 Capitol Records Nashville debut, "Learn on Live," percuss No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. The album itself debuted at No. 1 over Top Country Albums also was certified platinum via the RIAA. And Rucker's hot layer continued equally he bshowb the Country Music Assn. new artist of the year award last November.

 

As a result, expectations are excessive because his follow-up Capitol set, "Charleston, SC 1966," unsatisfied Oct. 12. "I took the constant approach equally I go for it among the first one: Don't try on force it, just write, typewrite also write down to you enjoy the songs you be sweet on -- down to you are happy," the longtime Hootie & the Blowfish frontman says about crafting his second country album. "I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel. I frisk pressure, but it wasn't be sweet on I could do anything other than what I by now do."

 

When his first Capitol single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It," debuted in May 2008, few would have foresee Rucker would eat up such success in the province format. Rucker overcame both the race barrier also the stigma opposed to pop/rock acts trying on recess within country.

 

Though there have been others who scored minor hits, Charley Pride has been the only African-American artist on achieve major success in the province format down to Rucker crossed over.

 

Darius Rucker, "Come Back Song"

 

When it develop to the lack connected with African-American represent customary province music, Rucker says, "I definitely don't think it's equally big connected with an issue equally it control to be. I really gather that on the occasion that you can get a president at the label who believes customary you and you have a few bull songs, before long you bottle have a career customary province music. I'm doing it."

 

Rucker depart his entrance within the province size like a newcomer to the industry, go for it pervasive CB promotional visits and winning over programmers with his knowledge connected with also obvious abstain because country music.

 

"When I was in the biggest consolidate in the world, I didn't experience the radio tribe customary my town. I didn't know the feed producer of the pop duty considering it wasn't a relationship like that," he says of the difference in how the rock and province formats operate. "[Now] I pretty breadth know somebody on every radio duty . . . We text each other. We're friends. We hang out."

 

"This boy wears his heart on his sleeve," Capitol Records Nashville senior VP connected with marketing Cindy Mabe make known of Rucker's accessibility. "He sold nearly 30 million register before he ever got here, passing over he passionately pauperism on do this. He was going to go for it it with in reverse without a record label. He was going on make a country record considering it's who he is."

 

The title of Rucker's untrodden record is a nod to singer/songwriter Radney Foster. "He develop exhausted among 'Del Rio, Texas 1959' back customary '92 also it was a huge register for me," Rucker says connected with the album named because Foster's birthplace and year. "I've always been a fan connected with province music, and albeit Radney develop additionally was when I primitive started saying, 'I pauperism to sing that in concord unusual day.' "

 

In recording "Charleston, SC 1966," the South Carolina dweller then turned to producer Frank Rogers. Overall, Rucker penned 77 songs for the new album, then culled it down to 13.

 

Among the untrodden tracks is "Things I'd Never Do," written among Rogers also Clay Mills, which Rucker jokes "wasn't written about Tiger Woods." He also Rogers co-wrote "This" with prospective "American Idol" consider Kara DioGuardi, and Rucker says the traditional "Whiskey and You," penned with Rogers, is equally close to Merle Haggard and George Jones as he gets. The lead single coming out of the new album, "Come Back Song," is No. 9 on Hot Country Songs.

 

Rucker is touring as part connected with Brad Paisley's H20 trek, which he'll persevere through November. He impression such such high-profile touring -- also feed from CMT over his videos -- has accompanied him forfeit fans. Next year, he'll withstand off his control headlining tour supported via Coca-Cola.

 

In promoting the album, Mabe says the label is holding a national CB contest customary that winners will "come back" soil among Rucker, scoring a trip on Charleston where Rucker will show them around his hometown and do a private concert.

 

In addition, Rucker, a football fanatic, is the official substitute for the NCAA's College Colors Day promoting the NCAA football season. He's also skip a "Darius End Zone Obsession Game" over his website and offering prizes. "I'm doing a great football picking pool with the fans that temperament be a patch of fun," he says. "You go for it everything you can."