FRIDAY MUSIC: Darius Rucker, by JD

‘Country and Western’ music seems to have become fashionable recently. A few weeks ago Sky Arts started showing the Grand Ole Opry from Nashville featuring newer artists as well as old favourites and it has been very entertaining. This year marks the 100th birthday of the Opry which means the shows are by way of a celebration and they have already featured, believe it or not, Ringo Starr. The Beatles of course recorded a Buck Owens song called Act Naturally on their ‘Help’ album which was released a year after the Buck Owens original.

The Beeb has obviously taken note of the viewing figures and decided to raid their archives and dig out and put together programmes about Tammy Wynette, Charley Pride, Dolly Parton etc. Unfortunately the Beeb has decided to show their programmes at the same time as the Sky programmes. Why I don’t know, but they do.

So here is Darius Rucker, a new artist to me who was in one of the shows earlier this year and very good he is too. He is also following in the footsteps of Charley Pride who was C&W’s first black superstar.

https://www.opry.com/
https://dariusrucker.com/

Darius Rucker – “Wagon Wheel” | CMA Fest 2025
The ‘official’ video for this song has 450mmillion page views which gives an indication of how popular it is. But this live version is much better and includes the 4000+ audience singing along with it!

Darius Rucker - Beers and Sunshine (Official Music Video)

Darius Rucker - If I Told You (Official Music Video)

Darius Rucker - For The First Time (Official Music Video)

Darius Rucker - It Won’t Be Like This For Long (Official Video)

Darius Rucker - Let Her Cry (Bing Lounge)