Darius Rucker - Home For The Holidays (Humphead Records)

DARIUS Rucker is probably best known to UK audiences as the front man with Hootie and The Blowfish where their album Rear View sold in excess of 16 million copies.

As a solo artist he has emerged as one of the biggest-selling artists in the country music charts over the past few years with hit after hit. He is the first African-American artist to break into the country music charts since Charley Pride more than 30 years ago.

Not to be outdone with mainstream single chart toppers and albums, he has released his first Christmas album, which contains tried and tested festive offerings with a couple of new efforts thrown in, including you're A Mean One Mr Grinch.

His new single is one of the album cuts called What God Wants For Christmas. There's just one duet which features special guest Sheryl Crow with 'Baby It's Cold Outside".

He recently achieved his childhood dream of being inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry and, in 2009, he was named as the Country Music Associations New Artist Of The Year.

It's an album that gives you a feel of the spirit of Christmas and deserves being played during the season ahead. It also includes my sentiment for all our readers..Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

A bit of Ho Ho Ho for a country Christmas.