Darius Rucker Learn To Live CD

Although for the rest of his life, underinformed fans of 1990s pop will forever be calling Darius Rucker "Hootie," the former Hootie & the Blowfish singer-songwriter makes his solo debut with a perfectly credible take on mainstream contemporary Nashville country. The laid-back, largely acoustic folk-pop of Hootie & the Blowfish was never that far removed from contemporary country in the first place, so only the fact that Rucker is the first major African-American country star since the heyday of Charley Pride makes the stylistic crossover out of the ordinary. First single "Don't Think I Don't Think About It," a Top 5 hit on the Billboard country charts even prior to the album's release, makes clear how comfortable Rucker is with the blend of the Eagles and the Dixie Chicks that is contemporary country radio, and tracks like "History in the Making" and "Forever Road" are equally fine examples of the form.

Recording information: Blackbird Studios, Nashville, TN; The Castle, Franklin, TN; The Sound Kitchen, Franklin, TN.

Photographer: Russ Harrington.

Arrangers: John Hobbs; Kristin Wilkinson.

Personnel: Phillip Stein, Melissa Fuller, Ann Inman, Waylon Weatherholt, Frank Randazzo, Bradley Clark, Sarah Ross, Brad Clark (vocals); Pat Buchanan (guitar, electric guitar, baritone guitar, mandolin); B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar, resonator guitar); Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin); Ilya Toshinsky (acoustic guitar, mandolin); Brent Mason (electric guitar, baritone guitar); J.T. Corenflos, Brad Paisley (electric guitar); Dan Dugmore (steel guitar, dobro); Mike Johnson (steel guitar); Ron Block (banjo); Aubrey Haynie (mandolin, fiddle); Kristin Wilkinson, Monisa Angell (violin); Anthony LaMarchina (viola, cello); Mary Kathryn Vanosdale, Pamela Sixfin, David Davidson , David Angell (strings); Gordon Mote (piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Jim "Moose" Brown (piano, Wurlitzer organ); Michael Rhodes , Mike Brignardello (bass instrument); Greg Morrow, Shannon Forrest (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Wes Hightower (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Justin Niebank.