The Grammy-winning group Hootie & the Blowfish has unexpected and important connections to Montgomery County, Maryland, while being most commonly associated with the University of South Carolina and easygoing Southern rock. This relationship gives many local fans a unique sense of pride in the band’s lasting history, especially in light of their huge success with their debut album, Cracked Rear View, released in July 1994.
Two of the band’s original members, guitarist Mark Bryan and bassist Dean Felber, are responsible for the deepest roots of Hootie & the Blowfish in MoCo. Felber and Bryan are also proud graduates of Germantown’s Seneca Valley High School. Actually, Felber was born in Bethesda, and Bryan was born in Silver Spring. They met Jim Sonefeld, who would later form the legendary lineup, and Darius Rucker, who would become their iconic lead singer, at the University of South Carolina.
Their ties to Montgomery County extended beyond their early years. Only Wanna Be With You, one of their most well-known and financially successful hits from the landmark Cracked Rear View album, has a special geographical connection to Poolesville. Here in the county, at the Potomac Valley Lodge and the former pro shop/bar of the Poolesville golf course, was where part of the song’s incredibly famous music video was shot. One of the greatest singles of the 1990s gains an unexpectedly local flavor from this visual homage to a more sedate, rural aspect of Montgomery County.
The band’s early career involved a lot of touring, and their enthusiastic live performances around the Mid-Atlantic helped them develop a devoted fan base. Although the majority of their creation and ascent to fame took place in South Carolina, Montgomery County friendships and experiences served as a foundation for their artistic partnership.
The band members have remained true to their roots despite their worldwide success and more than 21 million albums sold in the US alone. For example, Mark Bryan has continued to perform, occasionally with his band The Screaming Trojans, in a lighthearted homage to the mascots of the Gaithersburg Trojans and his own Seneca Valley Screaming Eagles.The fact that two of the band’s main members are from Montgomery County and that a segment of their famous music video was filmed in Poolesville gives Hootie & the Blowfish’s place in music history a unique resonance for those who grew up humming songs like “Hold My Hand” and “Only Wanna Be With You.”
