darius rutger is the front man for hootie and the blowfish. last year he launched a solo career. he is synonymous with 90s pop music but he only has had country in his heart. craig melon has his story. ♪ i left out in a cloud of tail lights and dust ♪ >> reporter: today the only thing you recognize about darius rutger is the trade mark voice that made hootie and the blowfish one of the most successful bands of the '90s. ♪ you got your feelings hurt his album is the 15th best-selling album of all time. now, 15 years after manufacture the songs becamehe stuff of pop legend, rutgerss going country. >> i just sit back and -- really, i pinch myself. who really gets a second chance at a career? >> reporter: rutgers new album, "learning to live," has sold three quarters of a million copies. we caught up with him recently at nissan pavilion getting ready to play an unfamiliar role. >> it's hard. you know, you're the opener. and i know i have to go up and get involved. i don't want anybody walking out saying that guy hootie sucks. >> reporter: rutgers admits today's country crowd is a lot