Darius Rucker’s voice is unmistakable—a strong, rich baritone with a bit of a gruff edge. That voice has been prevalent on the music scene since the 1990s, when Rucker debuted as the lead singer of the band Hootie and the Blowfish. The 59-year-old Charleston native is also one of the most celebrated artists in country music. A multiple Grammy winner, he has received the prestigious award twice with Hootie and once as a solo artist, taking home the honor for Best Solo Country performance for his version of “Wagon Wheel.” In 2023, Rucker was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Despite all these accomplishments and accolades, Rucker remains true to his Southern upbringing and the foundation laid out for him by his late mother, Carolyn. He is known to set aside time before every show to greet fans and is also lauded for his humanitarianism, giving back to organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital in Charleston, where his mother worked as a nurse.
The avid golfer and South Carolina Gamecocks fan (he attended and has an honorary doctorate from USC) is wrapping up his US tour in Charleston with his annual Riverfront Revival, a two-day festival featuring 15 performers and held at scenic Riverfront Park in North Charleston.
Beyond the Setlist with Darius Rucker
TOWN: When did you first pick up a guitar?
Darius Rucker: I had a guitar but I never really played it until college. I couldn’t afford lessons, and it was before the Internet where you could just log on and learn to play, so when Mark [Bryan] and I put the band together in college and played a couple shows, we realized we needed an acoustic guitar. I really just barricaded myself in my room for months when I didn’t have class or when I wasn’t partying. Mark and Dean [Felber] showed me some chords, and I would play for seven or eight hours a day until I figured out what I was doing. So, I taught myself.
You have said that your song “If I Told You” is your jam. Why that song in particular?
I just think it is a great song. I didn’t even write it. It was written by Shane McAnally along with Jon Nite and Ross Copperman. When the song came to me, I texted Shane and said, ‘I can’t believe you wrote my life without me being there.’ It’s one of those songs I wish I had written. I don’t care a whole lot about awards but when this song didn’t get a nomination for anything I really wanted to apologize to them because the song is so great and the chorus is just so real: “If I told you the mess that I can be when there’s no one there to see.” I love those lyrics. It’s my jam!
You are an incredible ambassador for the Palmetto State. What are some things you love about South Carolina living?
A million things. The food, the beaches, the people. I love golf and South Carolina has some of the best golf in the world. When I get off of any plane or bus and I step into Charleston I just have the best feeling of home. There is nothing like it.
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
When I was in England, I ate haggis and Scotch eggs. I was scared of both of them at first. I’ll never eat haggis again, but I eat Scotch eggs all the time now. It’s a hard-boiled egg with pork around it and then it’s fried and it is really, really good.
Tell us about Riverfront Revival.
I really wanted to do my own festival in Charleston. I wanted it to be a nice festival in a small town. We have so many great bands. The vibe is just a party. People eating, drinking, and having a good time. I’m just proud to be a part of it.
Riverfront Revival is set for October 10–11 at Riverfront Park in North Charleston, and will feature Rucker as well as Riley Green, Whiskey Myers, Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers, and more. Get details and tickets at riverfrontrevival.com.
Star Style: Rucker’s Top 3
- “I’m a T-shirt and boots guy. I keep about ten T-shirts on the bus and I usually just pick the one that’s on top.”
- “I do love boots. I probably have 30 to 40 pairs of them at home. There is a store called Boot Star in Los Angeles that I love.”
- “Snakeskin boots are a favorite and the reason why is because one of my favorite songs ever is a Radney Foster song called ‘Old Silver.’ The song says, ‘He had the best snakeskin boots that you ever did see,’ so I told myself that whenever I got a pair of boots, they would be snakeskin. I order them custom to fit my feet. And they just look cool.”
