His debut country album, Learn to Live , went platinum. The single “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” made him the first Black artist to hit #1 on country radio since Charley Pride in 1983.
Let’s break down the fortune of “Hootie,” past and present. When Cracked Rear View exploded, Hootie & the Blowfish were young, generous, and financially naive. They sold over 10 million records before they even hired a business manager.
But here’s what most people don’t know: despite the multiplatinum success, Rucker and the band almost went broke. And then, against all odds, he did something no other major rock star had done—he launched a second career in country music and got rich all over again.