Darius Rucker Joins NBC's "TODAY" to Discuss Healing Power of Music

 In an appearance on NBC's "TODAY" this morning, May 20, multi-Platinum country star Darius Rucker chatted with hosts Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer about the healing power of music during the ongoing quarantine and his recent experience performing songs like the impromptu "Wash Your Hands" (a spin on the Hootie & the Blowfish classic "Hold My Hand") for young hospital patients.
 
"We really believe that music can heal people and Musicians On Call is so good with taking people into the hospitals to sing," shared Rucker, whose own mother was a nurse at MUSC for over 30 years. "We can't go into the hospitals now, so we're doing it virtually and just trying to help people get through hard times. I love being a part of that."
 
Inspired by the mission of his wife Beth's Just Be You nonprofit to continue programming for youth during a time when people are unable to gather physically, Rucker teamed up with Musicians On Call and Hyundai Hope On Wheels to bring a virtual performance to the patients and families at Charleston's MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, as well as the hardworking hospital staff.
 
"We wanted to do something special for all of the kids who are stuck in their rooms right now, to help bring them a little joy during this uncertain time," noted Beth Rucker, who was involved with the original launch of Musicians On Call in New York City. "I'm a huge believer in the healing power of music so this was a really impactful experience for us to be a part of."
 
"Hospital patients are currently facing higher levels of isolation and caregivers are pulling double duty with both their traditional roles and COVID-19 response," notes Musicians On Call President & CEO Pete Griffin. "With the support of Hyundai Hope On Wheels, it is our honor to share the healing qualities of music with the people who need it most and bring joy during strenuous days."
 
For more information, visit www.DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.
 
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 8x 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. In 2019, Rucker embarked on the completely sold-out 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.
 
About Just Be You
Just Be You is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build teens' self-confidence through self-compassion and self-love. Through workshops, school assemblies and motivational speakers, Just Be You focuses on the daily challenges of life as a modern teen, offering them a safe environment to be kind to themselves, share, learn and grow into their most confident selves. The Just Be You team encourages and celebrates all levels of what it means to be bold, be brilliant and just be you. Adolescence is a time met with a crossroads of trying to fit in while simultaneously figuring out who they are, what makes them different and who they want to become, a duality that sometimes breeds confusion, anxiety and depression. At Just Be You, the messaging is that this is okay and they aren't alone, while outfitting young adults with the ability to understand and implement self-esteem and self-compassion. For more information, visit www.JustBeYou.org.

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