Hootie & the Blowfish, formed at the University of South Carolina, gained popularity in the mid-'90s with their mainstream pop blues-rock sound. Their debut album, Cracked Rear View, released in 1994, became a huge success with hit singles like "Hold My Hand" and "Let Her Cry," making it the top-selling album of 1995 in America.
Following the success of their debut, Hootie & the Blowfish released subsequent albums like Fairweather Johnson in 1996 and Musical Chairs in 1998, but did not achieve the same level of success. The band took a break before returning with new material in the early 2000s, including a self-titled album in 2003 and a Best of compilation in 2004. Lead vocalist Darius Rucker later pursued a successful solo career in country music, achieving commercial success with his album Learn to Live in 2008.
