Darius Rucker To Share New Memoir ‘Life’s Too Short’ In May
Photo: Courtesy of Dey Street Books
Darius Rucker plans to share his journey so far in Life’s Too Short: A Memoir by Darius Rucker, out May 28 via Dey Street Books.
The raw, heartfelt memoir tells the award-winning artist’s life story through the lens of the music that made him, including songs by everyone from Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder to R.E.M., Kiss and Prince in addition to his own music with Hootie & the Blowfish and as a solo artist.
Multiple decades into his career, Rucker recounts the ascent of his band and wild tales of his road-hardened life filled with stumbles, missteps and battles with demons that ultimately results in triumph.
“If I look back at my life and try to see into my past, everything seems blurry,” he says. “But then I lean in and start to hear something. Melodies. Chords. Harmonies. Lyrics. This book is the story of my life as told through 23 songs that took me away, soaring, starting at ground level, living in a poor but happy home, never wanting for much more, enjoying what I had, even when times got tough, because I had my escape, my refuge, my music.”
Raised by a single mother in Charleston, Rucker co-founded Hootie & the Blowfish with three classmates at the University of South Carolina in 1986. What began as a party band playing frat houses and dive bars quickly became a global rock-pop phenomenon through their double Diamond-certified debut album Cracked Rear View, featuring hit songs “Only Wanna Be With You,” “Let Her Cry” and “Hold My Hand.”
While remaining with the group, Rucker has charted a pioneering path as a solo country artist with Diamond-certified hit “Wagon Wheel” as well as “Alright” and “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.” Throughout the years, he has shared the stage and mic with the likes of David Crosby, Al Green, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Adele, Taylor Swift and more. This past year, Rucker was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame, recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and honored with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award. He also released his first solo project in six years, Carolyn’s Boy.
