94年全美排行冠軍大碟《Cracked Rear View》讓Hootie & The Blowfish成為震天響的知名樂隊(duì)，800萬張的銷售數(shù)字締造史上最佳首張專輯銷售的紀(jì)錄，連同96年的冠軍專輯《Fairweather Johnson》與98年TOP 4作品《Musical Chairs》，全球超過2000萬樂迷都聽過這支流行隊(duì)伍中唯一的黑人歌手Darius Rucker那饒富靈魂樂色彩的歌聲，盡管當(dāng)時(shí)樂評推崇他是這支榮獲葛萊美獎最佳新進(jìn)藝人獎樂隊(duì)橫掃樂壇的動力所在，但眾人卻只流于他身處白人樂隊(duì)的浮面印象，2002年首張個(gè)人專輯《Back To Then》，Darius Rucker要讓大家對這副唱過《Only Wanna Be With You》、《Let Her Cry》這些TOP 10單曲的嗓子留下深刻的記憶，《Back To Then》發(fā)行首周空降Billboard熱門潛力榜(Heatseekers)冠軍王座的優(yōu)異表現(xiàn)將焦點(diǎn)拉回他的歌聲，也實(shí)踐了他多年來努力做好一張節(jié)奏藍(lán)調(diào)／靈魂樂專輯的夢想。 南卡羅來納州Charleston的童年記憶，客廳中哼著Gladys Knight、Otis Redding、Al Green等節(jié)奏藍(lán)調(diào)前輩歌曲的美好歲月，Darius Rucker經(jīng)常不由自主的聽歌廳到淚兒流，說唱傳奇The Notorious B.I.G.的唱作風(fēng)采也對Darius的歌唱抱負(fù)深具激勵，89年與南卡羅來納大學(xué)同窗Mark Bryan、Dean Felber、Jim Sonefeld組成Hootie & The Blowfish，經(jīng)過十多年的樂隊(duì)生涯后，Darius趁著與好友合作第4張專輯的空檔，個(gè)人大碟《Back To Then》終于應(yīng)運(yùn)而生。誠如標(biāo)題名稱一樣，Darius透過歌聲追溯自己的節(jié)奏藍(lán)調(diào)音樂成長歷練，將放克節(jié)拍的活力彩度、藍(lán)調(diào)音感、福音音樂圣潔的味道與節(jié)奏藍(lán)調(diào)鮮嫩攪拌，并邀集80年代中后期曾與Will Smith組成DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince的DJ Jazzy Jeff為首的費(fèi)城制作小組A Touch Of Jazz(Jill Scott處女作幕后制作)掌舵制作。 《Wild One》出自2001年以TOP 8單曲《What Would You Do》走紅的葛萊美獎提名樂隊(duì)City High隊(duì)員Ryan Toby之筆，Darius在歌聲中道出闖蕩樂壇的不受羈絆的自在心情；2001年葛萊美獎最佳新進(jìn)藝人提名的靈魂樂女歌手Jill Scott傾情對唱的《Sometimes I Wonder》柔緩烘調(diào)靈魂戀歌的動人意境;與Jill Scott同樣來自靈魂樂園地-費(fèi)城的真情才子Musiq擔(dān)任合聲與編曲的《Exodus》字里行間流露依偎廝守真情，猶如一篇溫煦的愛情誓言；Darius并透過重唱靈魂樂傳奇Al Green 74年名作《I'm Glad You're Mine》告慰天上的母親；曾在《Let Her Cry》擔(dān)任合聲的女歌手Lil' Mo合唱的《10 Years》則是首心碎的愛戀告白衷曲；說唱名嘴Snoop Dogg助陣的《Sleeping In My Bed》顯見Darius對說唱樂的涉獵。 by MacKenzie Wilson As part of Hootie & the Blowfish, Darius Rucker changed the face of mainstream pop music in the mid-'90s. Hootie & the Blowfish's blues-rock jams were infectiously fun and singles like "Hold My Hand" and "Only Wanna Be With You" propelled the band to sell nearly 20-million albums worldwide. After Hootie & the Blowfish released Musical Chairs in 1998, they took a break from recording and the road. Rucker used him time wisely and started a solo career. Born and raised in Charleston, SC, he was fed the sounds of Otis Redding, Al Green, and Gladys Knight at an early age. His R&B influences urged him to find his soul. He did with his debut album, The Return of Mongo Slade. The album was slated for a summer 2001 release with Atlantic, but it never saw the light of day because of contractual changes. A few months later, Rucker signed with Hidden Beach Recordings. He also made a cameo in the Farrelly brothers' comedy Shallow Hal. By spring 2002, Rucker was ready to introduce his mellow, R&B style. He hooked up with Jill Scott, Snoop Dogg, Musiq, and City High's Ryan Toby for the crazy-sexy-cool Back to Then, released in July 2002.