Darius Rucker's Hurdles To Launching A Country Career

Darius Rucker says transitioning to country music wasn't as easy as some people might think. He tells Maryville, Tennessee's "The Daily Times" he had to win over folks who knew him as the Hootie and the Blowfish frontman and wanted to pigeon-hole him as a pop singer. He notes that when he put out his solo country debut, quote, "I think people were expecting to hear 'Hold My Hand' with a lap steel, or a Hootie record with country instruments," and they were surprised because "Learn to Live" is quote, "just so undeniably country." Rucker says he also had a "rock star" reputation to overcome, with country disc jockeys and club owners confessing that before they met him they thought he'd be a jerk. But he was able to win over the radio personalities with his attitude, and his music convinced them he was for real -- which resulted in his songs getting airplay.