Darius Rucker still proving himself as country artist with 'True Believers'

Since Darius Rucker’s leave from pop music to country music in 2008 he has released three albums. With his third album True Believer released today he has made his mark in country music.

Rucker has hit platinum album sales, a CMA award, and a membership in the Grand Ole Opry since his debut album Learn to Live, which sold more than a million copies and hit number one with three singles according to Rolling Stone. In 2010 his second album Charleston, SC 1966 had two songs in the country charts and received a gold sales certification.

The now country singer hits are not stopping. His cover of Bob Dylan’s and Old Crow’s Ketch Secour “Wagon Wheel” featuring Lady Antebellum off of True Believers hit the top of Billboard’s country singles chart yesterday.

"Every time I make a record, it's make or break time," Rucker says to Rolling Stone. "I hope I always have that mentality – that's what keeps me fired up. I've got to solidify my place in Nashville, and to do that I've got to keep making records that people want to listen to."

The Hootie and the Blowfish frontman has no plans to return to pop music anytime soon but predicts a few Hootie and the Blowfish tour dates next year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band’s 16-times platinum album, Cracked Rear View. Rucker is still trying to prove himself as a country artist.

A twitter user posted, “@dariusrucker Leave country to the white folk.” Rucker tweeted back, “Wow. Is this 2013 or 1913,” and “I’ll take my grand ole Opry membership and leave your racism.”

In regards to the tweet Rucker said, “Sometime people will say ‘You’re not country,’ and I know what that means, because they can’t be talking about the music. But when somebody says to leave country music to the white folks, that is unbelievable to me . . . But that’s life. That’s something that I’m going to have to deal with the rest of my career, because I’m a black guy in country music and there are people who don’t like that. But it’s not going to make me quit.”

According to Billboard Rucker is going to promote True Believers with his first headlining tour, and is booked at festivals this summer.

Photo courtesy of Image.net

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