Darius Rucker - Don't Think I Don't Think About It

Darius Rucker's name is synonymous with one of top-selling bands of all time, and with a range that rivals top vocalists across all genres, it is no surprise that South Carolina native and frontman for Grammy award-winning pop group Hootie & The Blowfish is now changing the face of music once again with a debut country solo album on Capitol Records Nashville.




With co-writes from country industry leaders such as Rivers Rutherford, Frank Rogers , Dave Berg, Chris DuBois, and Clay Mills - with whom Rucker co-wrote the debut single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" - Rucker showcases his rich storytelling capabilities while maintaining a familiarity fans are sure to recognize.

Q&A with Darius:

"Don't Think I Don't Think About It" is the first single you've taken to country radio - what made THIS song the best way to introduce yourself to a country audience?

I really would have been happy with pretty much any of the songs being the first single, but I told (producer) Frank Rogers after we finished this song in the studio that this was going to be it . . . I think the feel, the tempo and the sentiment all had something to do with the decision -- and, everybody wants to think that there is someone out there thinking about them, don't they?!? I wrote "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" with (songwriter) Clay Mills, who was one of the great guys I got to write with on this project; in fact, a few of the songs we wrote together made the record.

You recording a country album might surprise some people . . . should it?

No, I don't think it should surprise anyone. I love music and for years I've listened to country artists. I mean, I grew up in South Carolina in the 70's, you know. Some of my favorite memories of being a kid is sitting in front of an AM radio and flipping through stations. You would hear a Stevie Wonder song or something, then hear a commercial so you'd turn the dial . . . hear a Kiss song, hit another commercial so you'd turn the dial again . . . and then Buck Owens jumps out at you. His guitar has no bass and the high notes are higher than any thing you think you have ever heard - I didn't know who it was, but I listened to the DJ to find out. I just had to know. I grew up with a mom that let me listen to whatever I wanted to, and a grandmother that loved country music, so it's just naturally part of my background. It might sound funny now, but Hee Haw was a religion for me. Every country artist that existed was on Hee Haw, and I saw 'em all.

So, you wouldn't say that this is a big departure for you?

Not at all. I believe what we do with Hootie is not that far off from a lot of country music -- I mean, when we first started out, I begged the guys in Hootie to be a country band, and I just got outvoted! And I have always written country songs - in fact, a big joke in the band is that I write these country songs that they have to make rock. So for me, this is really just part of the natural evolution of my career -- inevitable, really. You have a pretty distinctive voice - what country artists would you describe as "distinctive," either as a vocalist or a songwriter?

There are so many singers in country that have their "thing" that is just them . . . We can start with Dwight. I love Dwight Yoakam. Nobody sounds like Dwight, nobody dances like Dwight - and we both love a shuffle. I think my biggest country influence is someone with an amazing voice, Radney Foster. The first time I heard Foster & Lloyd's "Crazy Over You" on TV, I went into the record store where I worked early so that I could open the album and hear it -- and I never went to work early. His Del Rio Texas 1959 album is one of the 10 best albums I have ever heard. As for other artists . . . well, Nanci Griffith is unbelievable. Patsy Cline, New Grass Revival, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, David Allen Coe, Hank Sr - these are all people that I have listened to for years, and with all of them, you recognize their voice the second you hear it. Oh yeah -- don't want to leave out Hank Jr.! One of my goals is to record "Family Tradition" -- I think that would be perfect for me.

You know, I've been in that little twangy rock cocoon for a while . . . But now I get to come out and sing these songs. I plan to be doing this for a long time. This isn't a one album deal -- it's a career thing. Actually, I would like to have fun with this record and then get right back in the studio and start the next! I love working in Nashville.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• darius
• rucker
• hootie
• blowfish
• don't
• think
• about
• it
• Don't
• Think
• About
• It
• Darius
• Rucker
• Hootie

[xlovelyxheartx]

Darius Rucker is a great musician~no matter if we are talkin Hootie & The Blowfish or talkin him going solo in Country....he is just plain good. Love to give kudos where they are deserved & they def are where Darius it concerned!!!!!

[jacquezmaster]

oh man what guy can't relate to thing song in some way?

[bibika2844]

The single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It", made him ( Darius Rucker) the first African American to chart a number one on the Hot Country Songs charts since Charley Pride in 1983.

[yangzoua90]

Love this song and many of his other songs... Ppls just need to shut the fuck off.. If you don't like the song then leave...you guys just Fucken jealous that this man, DARIUS RUCKER could sing...

[superchef78]

@joshedgington66 Who is stereotyping? I challenge YOU to blatantly look your opponents IN THE FACE instead of broadly accusing some (as of now unspecified) general group of "people" who are purportedly "sterotyping like never before". If you look around, you'll find that you yourself (in your CLEARLY defensive position) have also made the same exact error (or rather "crime", as I'm sure you would coin it) that you have so quickly accused "people" of.

[superchef78]

@jacquezmaster Someone that never thinks that someone thinks that they think about something (ie "it", as Rucker refers to it in this case) could not relate.

[gwyn2012]

he not only black country inger retards charlie pride was black



[violinfoofie24]

Who Lives, Is From, or has ever been in South Carolina?!?!

:D :D :D

[snoopygyrl1024]

i luv darius!!!

[snoopygyrl1024]

i love Darius!!!

[joshedgington66]

why does every bring up race jeez man people are sterotyping like never before really sadie most black sing rap like is that very neccasary jeez ppl need to shut there damn mouths and just enjoy the music if you dont like the music than leave it just really getting old i think alot of ppl are getting fed up with it

[sadie7258]

i love this song but black people most of the time they do not sing country they sing rap