Rucker to join Opry
Tuesday, October 2, 2012 – Darius Rucker received a surprise at the end of his outing at the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday. Brad Paisley showed up to pop the question.
After Rucker had performed his hits Alright and Don't Think I Don't Think About It as well as his current single True Believers, Rucker agreed to field questions from members of the audience. After answering questions posed by two fans, a third "fan," aka Paisley, appeared in the audience with a two-part question. First question: "Are you still the worst poker player in the world?" Second question: "Would you like to be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry?"
Managing an "Oh, you're kiddin' me," "Yes, I would" and "Wow," Rucker embraced Paisley, who added, "Welcome him home, everybody. This is his new home right here."
After Rucker performed Wagon Wheel and Paisley performed a set of his own, Rucker returned to the stage saying, "You guys got to share one of the most special nights of my life tonight." Addressing his new Opry family, he added, "Thank you for opening your arms and letting me in."
Rucker will be inducted into the Opry on Tues., Oct. 16. That show will air live on "Noteworthy at the Opry" on GAC at 8 p.m. Central.
"We are extremely excited that Darius will be joining our Opry family," said Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. "He's forged an incredible, diverse musical path which has led today to the top of the country charts. It's been clear from the moment Darius first stepped on our stage in 2008 in what high regard he holds the Grand Ole Opry and similarly how much Opry fans love Darius' music. We look forward to him becoming an official Opry member in just a couple of weeks."
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Charleston, SC 1966
It's a nifty trick to sell more than 20 million records over the course of 20 years, and follow it all with a CMA for New Artist of the Year. But Darius Rucker's career has defied convention more than once. There was a time in the '90s that Rucker's rich baritone, fronting Hootie and the Blowfish, was inescapable on mainstream radio. And with 2008's "Learn to Live", his country debut, he caught lightning in a bottle again: a number 1 record and 4 hit singles. »»» |
Learn to Live
Darius Rucker is making the plunge into country after years spent leading Hootie & the Blowfish. Unlike some others who enter the country field late in their music life, Rucker attempts at times to keep a country sound. That is particularly true on "All I Want," although the tonker would have been best handled by someone like Dwight Yoakam since Rucker comes off as more of a dabbler than a dyed in the wool traditionalist.
Rucker's voice is his strong suit. He always has had a very »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
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