Darius Rucker Celebrates Second No 1 Billboard Country Album Chart Debut With 'Charleston, Sc 1966'

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Capitol Records Nashville/ Darius Rucker Official Website) - Darius Rucker wowed the world in 2008 with his debut solo country release Learn To Live (Capitol Records Nashville) which produced three consecutive No. 1 hits, a Top 5 single, sold 1.5 million records and earned him the 2009 CMA New Artist Award. No more than two years later, he's back on top again with the No.1 Billboard Country Album Chart debut of his second release, Charleston, SC 1966. In just one week the record has sold over 100,000 units- naming Rucker only the 4th country artist this year to debut with over 100,000 first week sales along with Lady Antebellum, Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown Band.

The new album's title pays homage to Radney Foster's album Del Rio, Texas 1959, which Darius says was a "light switch" record for him. "It really changed the way I heard music," said Rucker. "Not just country music, but the way I heard music in general- it was huge for me."

According to Mario Tarradell of the Dallas Morning News, "Rucker ably captures the nuances of mainstream country, particularly on the gems 'Whiskey and You,' 'In a Big Way' and 'Southern State of Mind.' The album solidifies his country cred."

Rolling Stone's Mark Kemp also backs the record saying, "Rucker's rich baritone, sentimental ballads and bright hooks make him the most successful African-American country singer since Charley Pride. He amps up that formula on album number two, delivering a swaggering honky-tonk frat-boy duet with Brad Paisley ('I Don't Care'), a cutesy tale of domestic bliss about sneaking a little nooky while the kids ain't lookin' ('Might Get Lucky') and a road song that finds him pining for sweet tea and chivalry ('Southern State of Mind").'

Fans can purchase Charleston, SC 1966 (Capitol Records Nashville) on iTunes, other digital realms and in stores nationwide. For more information on Darius Rucker, visit www.dariusrucker.com.