Nashville, Tenn. – Darius Rucker knows that in order to move people, there has to be vulnerability and authenticity in the message. Rucker first demonstrated his ability to expose that underlying raw emotion with the first of his seven No. 1’s, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” from his Platinum Learn To Live and most recently in “So I Sang” from Southern Style. With our first taste of new music in “If I Told You,” Rucker unveils a heartfelt new track worldwide today on iHeart Radio. Expected to be the first cut from his fifth major label country album for Capitol Records Nashville, the song is also available on streaming and digital retail services.
“I always tell people, the first time I heard [the Black Crowes’] ‘She Talks To Angels,’ those lyrics did something to me. I probably requested that song eight times at different bars in Columbia, S.C. before going home, putting on Bonnie Raitt’s Home Plate, and trying to write ‘She Talks To Angels’ for Bonnie Raitt. ‘Let Her Cry’ just poured out,” shares Rucker. “For me, ‘If I Told You,’ inspired me like ‘Angels’ as it’s not a song I wrote, but as a songwriter I would not change a line as it moves me to want to not only sing along but also as a songwriter it inspires a new perspective.”
In his inaugural project with producer Ross Copperman, “If I Told You” also marks the first time Rucker has worked with Copperman’s co-writers on the single, Jon Nite and Shane McAnally.
“What I love about each album is the opportunity to expand on what we’ve done in the past—to push myself and the band creatively, vocally and lyrically,” adds Rucker. “At the end of the day, I’m a fan of great stories and great songs. With ‘Wagon Wheel’ I loved the visual it painted and it’s a song I can truly say I look forward to performing every night. With ‘If I Told You,’ I can’t wait to share in that vulnerability with the fans from the stage night-after-night.”
Rucker is currently on his U.S. Good For A Good Time Tour; upcoming dates are as follows:
Thursday, July 7 | Englewood, Colo. | Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
Friday, July 8 | Albuquerque, N.M. | Isleta Amphitheatre
Saturday, July 9 | Phoenix, Ariz. | Ak-Chin Pavilion
Friday, July 15 | Mountain View, Calif. | Shoreline Amphitheatre
Saturday, July 16 | Irvine, Calif. | Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
Friday, July 22 | Holmdel, N.J. | PNC Bank Arts Center
Saturday, July 23 | Hartford, Conn. | XFINITY Theatre
Sunday, July 24 | Wantaugh, N.Y. | Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
Friday, July 29 | Bangor, Maine | Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
Saturday, July 30 | Mansfield, Mass. | Xfinity Center
Sunday, July 31 | Darien Center, N.Y. | Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Friday, Aug. 12 | Bristow, Va. | Jiffy Lube Live
Saturday, Aug. 13 | Camden, N.J. | BB&T Pavilion
Sunday, Aug. 14 | Bethel Woods, N.Y. | Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Thursday, Aug. 18 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Riverbend Music Center
Friday, Aug. 19 | Mt. Pleasant, Mich. | Soaring Eagle
Saturday, Aug. 20 | Chicago, Ill. | Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Thursday, Aug. 25 | Detroit, Mich. | DTE Energy Music Theatre
Friday, Aug. 26 | Cleveland, Ohio | Blossom Music Center
Saturday, Aug. 27 | Charlotte, N.C. | PNC Music Pavilion
Saturday, Sept. 3 | Gilford, N.H. | Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
Sunday, Sept. 4 | Gilford, N.H. | Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
Friday, Sept. 9 | Virginia Beach, Va. | Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre at Virginia Beach
Saturday, Sept. 10 | Raleigh, N.C. | Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
Sunday, Sept. 11 | Alpharetta, Ga. | Verizon Wireless
For more information about Rucker and to buy tickets, visit www.DariusRucker.com and follow @DariusRucker on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.