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Myrtle Beach – Three-time GRAMMY Award winner and South Carolina native Darius Rucker will serve as an official ambassador for South Carolina tourism in 2020, under a new partnership with the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism.

Working collaboratively with SCPRT, Rucker will share his music and name recognition to strengthen the state’s tourism brand, leveraging his national and global appeal to promote South Carolina as a preferred travel destination.

“We’re thrilled with the opportunity to work with a well-known Southern voice to promote South Carolina,” said Duane Parrish, as he announced the partnership at the annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Travel today in Myrtle Beach. “Darius Rucker is a home grown star with a genuine love of his state. His story and talent are attractions themselves. We are looking forward to working with him this year!”

Under the partnership, Rucker will make appearances at several major tourism events, including the RBC Heritage golf tournament on Hilton Head Island in April. He also will appear on marketing material for the state’s DiSCover campaign including digital and print advertising, television commercials, social media posts, website stories and as the cover story for the state’s official vacation guide.

At several of Rucker’s 2020 concerts, SCPRT will promote South Carolina with 30-second commercials.

“Whether he’s singing about his hometown or talking about his life experiences, you can tell Darius Rucker is proud of where he’s from,” Parrish said. “Our partnership is a natural fit.”

About Darius Rucker

Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the record industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish. Since releasing his first Country album in 2008, he’s enjoyed four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart and nine No. 1 singles at Country radio, earning a whole new legion of fans. In 2014, Rucker won his third career GRAMMY Award for Best Solo Country Performance with his 4x Platinum version of Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel.” As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker is a constant supporter of the MUSC Children's Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. He has also raised millions of dollars for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament, as well as for more than 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation. Rucker recently wrapped the Group Therapy Tour with his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates as they celebrated the 25th Anniversary of generation-defining smash Cracked Rear View in addition to the November 1 release of Imperfect Circle, their first album in nearly 15 years. For more information, visit www.dariusrucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

About South Carolina Tourism

Tourism is a $23.8 billion industry in South Carolina and supports one in every 10 jobs. The industry is currently enjoying its seventh consecutive year of growth, and indicators, including total room nights sold every month, hint at more growth. Through its campaign, “There’s Always Something New to Discover,” SCPRT markets the state as a vacation destination with a comprehensive strategy that involves advertising, public relations, websites, social media engagement, welcome center service and industry collaboration.

For more information, contact Dawn Dawson-House at ddawson@scprt.com or 803-467-0202.

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