Darius Rucker is looking to become the Larry Doby of country music. Just as Doby became the second African-American to play major league baseball behind Jackie Robinson, Rucker is in position to become the second black to win best male vocalist at the Country Music Association Awards.
And as was the case with the first blacks to break into the major leagues, there's no doubt about Rucker's talent.
His first country album, "Learn To Live" has sold more than a million copies. Rucker says he's proud to be up for the same award first won by Charley Pride back in 1971.
Rucker says "you can't help but smile when someone mentions your name in the same sentence as Charley Pride." And Rucker comes by his country music background honestly.
He says when he was a kid, he'd love watching "Hee Haw" on TV.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
