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"H" is for Hootie and the Blowfish

South Carolina From A to Z
SC Public Radio

"H" is for Hootie and the Blowfish. Founded in 1986, Hootie and the Blowfish emerged as the most popular rock band on the USC college scene in the 1980s and early 1990s. Consisting of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Darius Rucker, lead guitarist Mark Bryan, drummer Jim Sonfeld, and bassist Dean Felber, the band suddenly grew into a national phenomenon with the release of their major label debut album, Cracked Rear View in 1994. The album became one of the best selling recordings in popular music history, selling more than fifteen million copies. After winning two Grammy Awards for the first record, their album, Fairweather Johnson, reached number one on the charts, but sold only three million copies by 2002. Later releases by Hootie and the Blowfish earned respectable reviews, but had limited sales. 

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Dr. Walter Edgar has two programs on South Carolina Public Radio: Walter Edgar's Journal, and South Carolina from A to Z. Dr. Edgar received his B.A. degree from Davidson College in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1969. After two years in the army (including a tour of duty in Vietnam), he returned to USC as a post-doctoral fellow of the National Archives, assigned to the Papers of Henry Laurens.