Hootie & the Blowfish emerged in 1986 in Columbia, South Carolina through the collaboration of Darius Rucker (vocals/guitar), Mark Bryan (guitar), Dean Felber (bass), and Jim “Soni” Sonefeld (drums) to create one of the most influential bands of the 1990s with their rock-pop-heartland sound.

The band achieved massive commercial success with their debut album , Cracked Rear View (1994) which became the top-selling debut album in U.S. history through its rock and country crossover hits "Hold My Hand," "Let Her Cry," "Only Wanna Be with You," and "Time." The album received two Grammy Awards while selling more than 21 million copies in the United States.