Darius Rucker wins CMA award - 2nd African American to win award

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A bit of history for Darius Rucker. He has won the Country Music Association Award for best new artist. It makes him only the second African-American to win a major CMA honor. The first was Charley Pride, who won entertainer of the year and male vocalist in 1971 and male vocalist in 1972. Despite the fact that it has been nearly 40 years since a black artist has claimed a top CMA prize, Rucker was among the favorites at last night’s ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee. His first country album, “Learn to Live” went platinum. In accepting the award, Rucker thanked both fans and country radio for taking “a chance on a pop singer from Charleston, South Carolina.“ Rucker was the lead singer for Hootie and the Blowfish before launching his country career.