Country Star Darius Rucker shares his first-hand experience with the industry being a Black artist and how he has faced racism in his career.
What We Know:
- Darius is a 54-year-old Black male Country artist. He is the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Hootie & the Blowfish, formed in 1986. His single “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” reached number one on the Hot Country Songs charts. Rucker was the first Black artist since Charley Pride to do so.
- He will be co-hosting the 54th Annual CMA Awards Wednesday alongside Reba McEntire. He is the second Black person to host the event. Charley Pride co-hosted the event back in 1975.
- Rucker will be presenting Pride with a Lifetime Achievement Award. People have speculated whether the two will comment on the lack of representation in the genre and the award show.
- Rucker told the radio show “Color Me Country” about his experience being a Black man in the genre, “I wasn’t thinking about the Black country singer thing,” he said. “I wanted people to play my music for my music. If you like the song, please play it. If not, don’t. Don’t play it because I’m Black, and please don’t play it because I’m Black.”
- He also explained his difficulties breaking into the genre, “The first time I walked into [a country radio station] — nobody said they wouldn’t play it. What was said was, “I don’t think my audience will accept a Black country singer,'” he recalled. “Just like that. ‘I love the song. I think it’s country. Love it. I’m going to play it tomorrow, but I don’t think my audience will accept a Black country singer.'”
- Rucker has not been incredibly vocal about his experiences, but with the Black Lives Matter movement gaining much traction this year, he decided to speak out. On his silence, he explained, “I’m not a real political guy. I don’t really get into that stuff,” he said. “But I just felt like it was time to say something, because I was feeling different.”
The CMA Awards are tonight at 8 PM EST on ABC.
