Charleston and the surrounding areas are made up of tight-knit communities whose members take pride in contributing to the city.
One such community member is Darius Rucker, lead singer and guitarist of the famed rock band Hootie & the Blowfish. Since leaving Hootie & the Blowfish, Rucker has gained acclaim as a country music singer. He has sold numerous records and won the Country Music Association’s New Artist of the Year award in 2009. Recently, he was made a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Rucker is a Charleston native who currently lives in Bull Bay’s community, just north of Mount Pleasant. He is often seen frequenting Mount Pleasant’s stores and restaurants.
Rucker has done multiple charity fundraising events, particularly for the Charleston Children’s Hospital, and is a very well liked by all who know him. He will be appearing with Hootie & the Blowfish at a fundraising event on Daniel Island on August 23 and 24. This event is held on behalf of the Daniel Island Community Fund, a non-profit that assists other local charitable organizations.
In celebration of Rucker’s many contributions to the community, North Charleston has decided to rename Coliseum Drive. The road surrounds the North Charleston Coliseum, a venue in which Rucker has played many concerts. Coliseum Drive will now be named Darius Rucker Boulevard.
The idea to rename Coliseum Drive was put forth by WEZL, a local radio station, and quickly caught fire. According to the Charleston City Paper, “North Charleston mayor Keith Summey heard the broadcast, and joined with the station to make the name change happen.”
The name change ceremony is set to take place on August 12. The ceremony will be broadcast live, so be sure to tune into the WEZL morning show at 8 a.m.
Like many other residents, I am very excited that North Charleston is recognizing the significant time and effort that Darius Rucker has spent improving our community.