Darius Rucker

Was one of six children raised by a single mother. Formed Hootie and the Blowfish in 1986 after his eventual bandmate Mark Bryan heard him singing in the shower. Collaborated with R&B artist Jill Scott and hip-hop's Snoop Dogg on his first solo album, Back to Then. Was inspired to play country music after hearing Radney Foster's album Del Rio, Texas, 1959. In 2010, Rucker released his second album, titled Charleston, SC, 1966. Was initially dismissed as a gimmick when he began playing country music. Some country radio stations wouldn't play his songs, so he crossed the Southeast in his car, appearing on dozens of radio shows. Was only the third black artist (the other two were Ray Charles and Charlie Pride) to hit the top spot on the country-music chart.