A senate RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR Darius Rucker for his contributions to music and to the people and the state of south carolina.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize Darius Rucker for his work with charitable causes in the State and his partnership with the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism; and

Whereas, Mr. Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the Grammy Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than twenty-five million albums worldwide, including their diamond-certified debut "Cracked Rear View," which remains among the top ten best-selling studio albums of all time; and

Whereas, since releasing his first Country album in 2008, Mr. Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four number one albums on the Billboard Country chart, including RIAA platinum-certified "Learn to Live" and "True Believers," as well as ten number-one singles in country radio and eleven gold, platinum, or multi-platinum certified hits; and

Whereas, Mr. Rucker was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012, and in 2014 he won his third career Grammy Award for Best Solo Country Performance with his nine-times platinum version of Old Crow Medicine Show's "Wagon Wheel," one of the top five best-selling country songs of all time; and

Whereas, as a lifelong philanthropist, Mr. Rucker supports the MUSC Children's Hospital in his hometown of Charleston and has also raised millions of dollars for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament; and

Whereas, Mr. Rucker has also advocated for over two hundred charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, and he serves as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville; and

Whereas, Mr. Rucker is the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism's Official Tourism Ambassador. The partnership consists of the department having the usage rights of the artists' likeness in print and digital advertising. Mr. Rucker conducted a Facebook Live for the department and was a guest on the Palmetto Porch Podcast series; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate greatly appreciate the dedication and commitment that Darius Rucker has shown in serving the people and the State of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Darius Rucker for his contributions to music and to the people and the State of South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Darius Rucker.

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