Description

A raw, heartfelt memoir from Darius Rucker, the three-time Grammy Award–winning, Diamond-selling lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish and Country music sensation—told through the remarkable stories of the music that coursed through his life.

“If I look back at my life and try to see into my past, everything seems blurry. But then I lean in and start to hear something. Melodies. Chords. Harmonies. Lyrics.”—From the Introduction

Raised by a single mother in Charleston, South Carolina, Darius Rucker founded Hootie & the Blowfish with three classmates at the University of South Carolina in 1986. What began as a party band playing frat houses and dive bars quickly became a global rock pop phenomenon through their Diamond-certified debut album Cracked Rear View, featuring the era-defining hit songs “Only Wanna Be With You,” “Let Her Cry,” and “Hold My Hand.” Later, Darius would also chart a pioneering path as a solo Country music artist, with the Diamond-certified hit “Wagon Wheel,” plus timeless anthems such as “Alright” and “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” while sharing the stage and a mic with the likes of David Crosby, Al Green, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Adele, Taylor Swift, and more. 

Nearly 40 years into his illustrious career, Darius tells the story of his life through the music that made him, including songs by everyone from Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder to R.E.M., KISS, Prince and, of course, his own music with Hootie and as a solo artist. He recounts the unlikely ascent of his band and wild tales of his road-hardened life—one filled with stumbles, missteps and battles with demons, but ultimately resulting in triumph. LIFE’S TOO SHORT is the story of a man, his music and his life; a page-turning memoir that is raw, real, hilarious and deeply emotional. 

About the Author

Darius Rucker is a three-time GRAMMY award-winning American singer, guitarist and songwriter. He first achieved multi-platinum status as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Hootie & the Blowfish, selling more than 25 million albums worldwide, including their Double-Diamond-certified debut cracked rear view, which remains among the top 10 best selling studio albums of all time. Since the release of his first Country album in 2008 via Capitol Records Nashville, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Country chart plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio including Diamond-certified hit “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top 10 Country songs of all time. Annually, Rucker lends his time and voice to St. Jude Children's Hospital, MUSC, the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and others to raise money for charitable causes close to his heart.

Praise For…

“Darius has always been one of my favorite people to sing with and to call a friend in this industry. We both started out around the same time and are lucky enough to still be making music today, and yet even knowing him well for as long as I have, there are so many incredible stories in Life's Too Short that I enjoyed learning for the first time.” — Sheryl Crow 

“Darius Rucker has been a trailblazer in music for decades and now we know why. Life’s Too Short is a raw, rare, and at times uncomfortable look at how Carolyn’s boy from Charleston rose to the top. Warts and all, this is an honest look at the soul of the man behind the music.” — Craig Melvin