After 14 years of country hits, Darius Rucker (scheduled to perform on July 22 at Arizona Federal Theatre) is finally better known as a critically acclaimed country singer than the front man of the unavoidable ’90s rock group Hootie & the Blowfish. But he isn’t the only artist to have changed musical lanes. Here’s a rundown of other performers who’ve dabbled in other melodic waters.
Fleetwood Mac
Just like Hootie nearly 30 years ago, you couldn’t listen to the radio without hearing the sultry vocals of former Paradise Valley resident Stevie Nicks in the ’70s and ’80s, thanks to the band’s 40-million-copy-selling album Rumours. But before she and Lindsey Buckingham joined the group, Fleetwood Mac was one of the premier British blues bands of the 1960s, anchored by the dexterous guitar stylings of Peter Green.
Bee Gees
Around the time Fleetwood Mac was forming, the Gibb brothers were kicking off their careers writing light rock ballads like “I Started A Joke.” Their producer told the trio to shift their focus toward dance music, and they churned out hit after disco hit, including “Staying Alive” from Saturday Night Fever.
Kenny Rogers
The country star had mainstream success thanks to hits like “Islands in the Stream,” his duet with Dolly Parton penned by the Bee Gees. But before he became “The Gambler,” Rogers dabbled in psychedelic rock with The First Edition, whose hit “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” was made popular by The Big Lebowski.
