Seeking 250-word proposals of essays for an edited collection aimed at a general-interest audience.

Hootie & the Blowfish, which is comprised of former University of South Carolina students Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim Sonnefeld (who replaced the original drummer Brantley Smith) is one of the all-time most popular bands in the United States. In addition to creating a string of catchy pop songs and creating charity events like Monday after the Masters, the group has become a cultural touchstone. References to the band appear in movies, TV shows such as “Friends,” short stories, and novels. They have been the subject of a ballet, and their influence extends as far as Japan where their songs are sung at karaoke clubs. Yet, as Jon Caramanica writes in the June 6, 2019 edition of The New York Times, the band was never granted the respect that they deserved. On the eve of the 25th anniversary of Cracked View Mirror, one of the greatest selling albums of all time, Caramanica begs for a reassessment of the band. To that end, I invite chapter proposals for a collection of essays in appreciation of Hootie & the Blowfish. This book will be directed at a general audience, however the proposal will be submitted to an academic press.

Possible topics:

*early/pre-fame Hootie & the Blowfish

*individual songs and their personal meaning

*race issues and protest in the songs of Hootie & the Blowfish

*the band's philanthropic work

*personal memories of Hootie & the Blowfish

* Hootie & the Blowfish Ballet

* The band's influence on other musicians

* literary and/or media references to Hootie & the Blowfish

*Hootie & the Blowfish and The South

Final essays will be up to 3,500 words.

Please submit a 250-word proposal, and a brief biography listing relevant publications (if any) by October 1, 2019  to:

Suzanne Kamata

Associate Professor of English

Naruto University of Education 

skamata@naruto-u.ac.jp