{"id":18795,"date":"2015-01-19T08:44:01","date_gmt":"2015-01-19T15:44:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com\/valleygirlblog\/?p=18795"},"modified":"2015-01-20T09:21:45","modified_gmt":"2015-01-20T16:21:45","slug":"artist-week-darius-rucker-perform-phoenix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com\/valleygirlblog\/art-music\/artist-week-darius-rucker-perform-phoenix\/","title":{"rendered":"Artist of the Week: Darius Rucker to Perform in Phoenix"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nImage courtesy of cmt.com<\/em><\/p>\n

One of country’s hottest performers is set to perform in Phoenix this January. \u00a0Rucker has performed in Arizona many\u00a0times in the past, but will soon be the object of attention at the Coors Light Birds Nest Waste Management Phoenix Open. \u00a0Details, along with fun fact about this country hottie, can be found below.<\/p>\n

Where:<\/strong>\u00a0Coors Light Birds Nest
\nWhen:<\/strong>\u00a0He will headline on Thursday, Jan. 29
\nExtra Details:\u00a0<\/strong>Tickets need to be purchased in advance.\u00a0For information on purchasing tickets, click\u00a0HERE<\/a>. Tickets are already sold out; however, many tickets can still be purchased on StubHub!<\/a><\/p>\n

Five Fun Facts About Darius Rucker:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. \u00a0<\/strong>Before being the hot solo country singer we know and love, Rucker was a member of the band Hootie and the Blow Fish. \u00a0Rucker first gained his fame as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the band. \u00a0Rucker founded the band in 1986.<\/p>\n

2<\/strong>. Rucker is the first black man to win the New Artist Award from the Country Music Association. \u00a0Rucker won the award in 2009. \u00a0He was the second black man to win an award from the association overall.<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> \u00a0His first single “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” topped number one on the Hot Country\u00a0Songs. \u00a0He was the first black man to make number one since\u00a0Charley Pride in 1983.<\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> \u00a0Prior to the singer’s country music career, Rucker spent a hot minute performing as an R&B artist. In 2001, Rucker made an R&B debut album titled “The Return of Mongo Slade.” \u00a0The album was never released by Atlantic Records. \u00a0It was eventually released in 2002 by Hidden Beach Records under a different name, “Back to Then.”<\/p>\n

5. \u00a0<\/strong>Rucker also made an appearance in the television commercial industry. \u00a0Rucker played a singing cowboy in a Burger King commercial in 2005. \u00a0The commercial promoted the TenderCrisp Bacon Cheddar Ranch sandwich.<\/p>\n

Below are some of Rucker’s top music videos.<\/p>\n

Watch the “Wagon Wheel” music video below.<\/p>\n