Hootie & The Blowfish
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About Hootie & the Blowfish
With the rich, bluesy vocals of Darius Rucker and gleeful harmonies of guitarist Mark Bryan, bassist Dean Felber and drummer Jim "Soni" Sonefeld, Hootie & the Blowfish have sold over 25 million records worldwide to date after their infectious melodies hit the airwaves in 1994 with hits such as "Hold My Hand", "Let Her Cry" and "Only Wanna Be With You."
The quartet met at the University of South Carolina where endless gigs at frat houses and local bars built a major local buzz. Their blend of pop, folk, blues, soul and rock made them hard to pigeonhole, but easily accessible to anyone who loved good music.
Atlantic Records, impressed by their regional draw, signed them and released Cracked Rear View in 1994. The album had been out for six months before the band played on the Late Show with David Letterman which sent sales skyrocketing, eventually landing at No. 1 on the Billboard chart the following spring. Cracked Rear View and the band went on to win two GRAMMY Awards, an MTV Video Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, and multiple People's Choice Awards. Cracked Rear View went on to earn the band Billboard's Band of the Year Award in 1996 and the RIAA's Diamond Award for sales in excess of 10 million units. Cracked Rear View remains the 5th most certified studio album in music business history.
The band remained a top draw nationwide and released five more albums for Atlantic: Fairweather Johnson, Musical Chairs, Scattered, Smothered & Covered, Hootie & The Blowfish and The Best of Hootie & The Blowfish, as well as Looking For Lucky on their own Sneaky Long Records and LIVE in Charleston, The Homegrown Concert Event DVD and CD. The band took a break from full-time touring in 2007, reuniting annually for a variety of philanthropic events while also pursuing solo projects. 2019 will mark the band's first full-time touring year in over a decade as they embark on the Group Therapy Tour in support of forthcoming new music under a new record deal with Universal Music Group Nashville.
Hootie & The Blowfish
Hootie & The Blowfish is an American rock band led by Darius Rucker, alongside Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim “Soni” Sonefeld.1 After breaking through in 1994 with Cracked Rear View, the group became widely known for songs like Hold My Hand, Let Her Cry, and Only Wanna Be With You.1 The band has sold over 25 million records worldwide and has earned two Grammys.1
Score your Hootie & The Blowfish tickets at AXS now for a spectacular live performance.
Hootie & The Blowfish’s Background
Mark Bryan first heard Darius Rucker singing in their dorm at the University of South Carolina in the late 1980s and suggested they start playing together.2 Dean Felber and Jim “Soni” Sonefeld later joined, completing the lineup that would define the band’s sound.3
Before signing with Atlantic Records, the group built a following through years of regional touring.4 That steady growth at the grassroots level set the stage for their commercial breakthrough.
Hootie & The Blowfish’s Awards
Following the success of Cracked Rear View, the band experienced significant commercial growth.1 During the same period, they received major industry recognition, including Grammy Awards.5
- Grammy Award — Best New Artist (1996): The band won this honor at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards, the same year their national breakthrough took hold.5
- Grammy Award — Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (1996): The group received the award for Let Her Cry, a single that quickly became one of their most recognized songs.5
- MTV Video Music Award — Best New Artist in a Video (1995): The band earned this recognition as Cracked Rear View continued gaining national attention.5
Hootie & The Blowfish’s Biggest Hits
Cracked Rear View is the album most closely associated with the band’s rise to prominence. It remains one of the best-selling albums in U.S. history.1 Its blend of acoustic rock and straightforward lyrics helped it reach a wide range of radio formats.
- Cracked Rear View (1994): The album sold more than 21 million units in the United States and is the highest-certified debut album of all time, according to RIAA data.7
- Let Her Cry (1994): The Grammy-winning single highlighted the band’s reflective songwriting and continues to be one of their most recognized tracks.5
- Only Wanna Be With You (1994): The song received heavy radio airplay and contributed to the album’s long-term visibility.1
See Hootie & The Blowfish Live
Hootie & The Blowfish have been touring and playing at live shows for decades and are known for keeping things energized on stage. Their concerts mix the songs everyone knows with deeper cuts from their catalog.1
Secure your Hootie & The Blowfish tickets at AXS to hear these defining tracks in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Information About Hootie & The Blowfish Concerts
Sources
- About – Hootie & The Blowfish
- Complete List of Hootie & The Blowfish Band Members – Classic Rock History
- The Story Behind Music Legends Hootie & The Blowfish – FM100
- Hootie & The Blowfish Profile – Top40Weekly
- Hootie & The Blowfish Awards – IMDb
- Hootie & The Blowfish Concert Length – LiveRate
- Hootie & The Blowfish on ‘Cracked Rear View’ at 30 – Billboard