In retrospect, Darius Rucker's attempt at contemporary R&B, 2002's Back to Then, was probably misguided. Especially since the famed lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish sounds so convincing on his country debut disc, Learn to Live . The CD plays seamlessly, mixing traditional with modern- day and barroom with front porch while throwing in elements of organic pop and soul. It's as if he's been doing this all his life.

NO STRANGER TO COUNTRY: Well, maybe not all his life, but he's no novice. With Hootie, Mr. Rucker has covered Radney Foster's "Fine Line," Foster & Lloyd's "Before the Heartache Rolls In" and Cindy Walker's "Dream Baby." So when he honky-tonks on the new album, during the great cut "All I Want," or when he does the country-soul thing on "Don't Think I Don't Think About It," his Top 10 country breakthrough, it sounds natural.

BOTTOM LINE: Mr. Rucker has quietly become the first African- American singer to score a major country hit since pioneer Charley Pride. The best part is he accomplished it without artifice.

Interview Part 1

Interview Part 2