Hootie & The Blowfish is an American rock band formed in 1986 by Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim Sonefeld at the University of South Carolina. Known for their blend of pop, rock, soul, and country styles, they gained significant commercial success in the mid-1990s with their album "Cracked Rear View", which remains one of the best-selling albums in U.S. history. The band's lead vocalist, Darius Rucker, became notable in his own right for his distinctive baritone voice and his subsequent successful solo career in country music. Despite their mainstream success being relatively brief, Hootie & The Blowfish have had a lasting impact on the American music scene.