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b'One of the most improbable blockbuster successes of the \\u201990s was Hootie and the Blowfish: a South Carolina bar band fronted by a Black lead singer that played jangly alt-pop. That singer, Darius Rucker, built a career that\\u2019s one of a kind. Rucker\\u2019s tastes growing up were eclectic, as were the influences on his young bandmates. Their Cracked Rear View album took a year to catch on, but then it dominated the charts.\\n\\nThe story gets more interesting after Hootie fell off: Darius Rucker\\u2019s career is a prime example of how chart success is a product of musical trend. First, Rucker tried to become a neo-soul star. Then he tried his hand at country music, even though Nashville had not produced a major Black solo star since Charley Pride.\\n\\nJoin Chris Molanphy as he traces this improbable journey\\u2014the role Rucker\\u2019s band played in mainstreaming alt-rock, Rucker\\u2019s effort to find a genre to call home, and how he finally became a chart-conqueror again..\\n\\nPodcast production by Kevin Bendis.\\n\\n\\nMake an impact this Black History Month by helping Macy\\u2019s on their mission to fund UNCF scholarships for HBCU students. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more.\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'