Darius Rucker Celebrated with No. 1 Party

Darius Rucker photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

June 16, 2009 — Darius Rucker joined fellow songwriters Ashley Gorley and Chris DuBois Monday for a late-afternoon party at ASCAP on Music Row to celebrate his No. 1 single "It Won’t Be Like This For Long."

As is the tradition at the gatherings, trophies and plaques were handed out by Country Weekly magazine, Country Radio Broadcasters, ASCAP and Capitol Records, which calls its spearhead-shaped glass trophy the "Impaler Award." ("If you fall on it, you’re dead," Capitol chief Mike Dungan laughed.)

The song came about almost by mistake. Darius noted that he’d already written a drinking song with Ashley and Chris, and they had plans to write another during a songwriting session. As they got started, Ashley began talking about his children, and the conversation evolved into "what I thought was a lullaby for my kids," Darius said.

Instead, it became his second country single, and it’s also provided something of a confirmation to Darius that he did the right thing by chasing a country career. He’s received numerous e-mails about "It Won’t Be Like This For Long," including one from a father who danced with his daughter when the song played at her wedding.

That’s rewarding, Darius said, because "you know you’re affecting people."

Added to the success of "Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It," Darius has gone to No. 1 with each of his first two country singles.

"You’re probably thinking ‘Why didn’t I do this a long time ago?’" CRB executive director Ed Salamon said.

A third No. 1 may be on the way. "Alright" is currently at No. 11 on the Country Aircheck chart. Mike Dungan predicts it will end up at the top, which would be, uhm, all right with Darius.

"I love this No. 1 party thing!" he beamed. "It’s awesome!"