Suzy Bogguss
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Suzy Bogguss | ||
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 Suzy Bogguss promotional photo from the album "Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt".
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Susan Kay Bogguss | |
| Born | December 30, 1956 | |
| Origin | Aledo, Illinois | |
| Genre(s) | Country, Folk | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, Guitar, Piano | |
| Years active | 1987–Present | |
| Label(s) | Liberty/Capitol (1987–1998) Platinum (1999) |
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| Associated acts |
Kathy Mattea, Matraca Berg, Gretchen Peters | |
| Website | Suzy Bogguss Official Site | |
Suzy Bogguss (born December 30, 1956) is an American country music singer and one of the most acclaimed female country singers of the 1980s and 90s. Her résumé includes the Academy of Country Music's award for Top New Female Vocalist, the Country Music Association's Horizon Award, six top ten singles, one platinum album, and three gold albums.
After taking a brief recording hiatus in the mid-1990s to start a family with her husband, songwriter Doug Crider, Bogguss returned to the country music scene to find that her charting power had already faded. Although she last appeared on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart in 1999, Bogguss continues to record and perform around the country to a small but loyal following.
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[edit] Early life and rise to success
Suzy Bogguss was born in Aledo, Illinois in December 1956. Her music career started at the age of 5 when she began singing in the Angel Choir of the College Avenue Presbyterian Church in her hometown. With the encouragement of her parents, she took lessons in piano and drums, and as a teenager picked up the guitar as well. She starred in several musicals at Aledo High School, where she was crowned homecoming queen during her senior year. After graduating in 1975, she enrolled at Illinois Wesleyan University, but later transferred to Illinois State University, from which she graduated in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in metalsmithing.
- While in college, Bogguss sang and played guitar in local coffeehouses, and after graduating became a regular on the club circuit in the Quad Cities area, performing frequently in Davenport, Rock Island, Kewanee and Peoria. In 1980, she took to the road and traveled across the country, booking whatever gig she could manage, from California all the way to New England. It was during this period that she produced her first independent album, Suzy, on the Old Shack Recording label. This LP was available for purchase at her shows and is now considered to be a rare collector's item.
In 1985, Bogguss settled down and moved to Nashville, where she worked as a demo singer by day and played in clubs at night. The following year, she became the first featured female performer at Dollywood, a theme park owned by country music legend Dolly Parton. This prompted her to produce an eponymous demo cassette, which she sold at her Dollywood shows. During this time she met songwriter Doug Crider, who penned one of the songs on the demo, and whom Bogguss would later marry. Eventually, the demo caught the attention of a record label executive, who offered her a recording contract with country powerhouse Liberty/Capitol Nashville.
[edit] Liberty/Capitol recording career
In 1987, Bogguss released her first singles on the Liberty/Capitol label. Of these ("I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire," "Love Will Never Slip Away," and "Come as You Were"), two succeeded in making the lower reaches of the country music charts, but were left off her first LP, Somewhere Between, in March, 1989. The album, with its blend of traditional and contemporary styles, drew hugely positive reviews, and Bogguss finally struck gold when the record's second single, "Cross My Broken Heart," became a top twenty hit on the country music charts. Following its success, she was named the Academy of Country Music's Top New Female Vocalist.
For her sophomore effort, Moment of Truth, production tasks were taken over by new label-head and Nashville heavyweight Jimmy Bowen, who moved Bogguss's sound in a more polished direction. Unfortunately, the result was somewhat lackluster, and the album's two singles failed to rise beyond the lower reaches of the Billboard charts. 1990 was hardly a failure, however, as a duet she recorded with Lee Greenwood, "Hopelessly Yours," went to #12 on the country singles chart and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Vocal Collaboration. (It lost to the song, "Restless," featuring Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Mark O'Connor.)
Bogguss's greatest success was yet to come, as in 1991 she proved to be more than a one-hit wonder with the platinum-selling Aces. The album showcased her folk-inspired approach to country music - no doubt picked up from her years of performing in coffeehouses - but remained true to the blend of contemporary and classic C&W that had proven so appealing on her debut. The LP yielded four hit singles - "Someday Soon," "Outbound Plane," "Aces," and "Letting Go" - each climbing higher up the charts than the last, and the latter three all reaching the country Top Ten. By now, Bogguss was a bona fide star, and the following year, the Country Music Association recognized her achievements by giving her its Horizon Award, awarded annually to the artist who has demonstrated the most significant creative growth and development.
Her 1992 follow-up, Voices in the Wind, earned Bogguss her second straight gold record. The album's first single, a cover of John Hiatt's "Drive South", just missed the #1 spot but gave Bogguss the highest-charting hit of her career to date. Her streak continued the following year with another gold record, Something Up My Sleeve, giving her two additional Top Five hits in "Just Like the Weather" and "Hey Cinderella". The latter, which she cowrote with Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison, has gone on to become one of Bogguss's trademark songs.
After the successes of those two years, Bogguss changed direction, parting with Bowen, who had produced her four previous albums. Her 1994 release, Simpatico, was a low-key album of duets with long-time friend and guitar legend Chet Atkins. The mood of the album was no doubt colored by the fact that he had recently been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Like her solo releases, the album offered a fine balance of old and new, with covers of the 1955 Webb Pierce hit, "In the Jailhouse Now," and Elton John's "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," in addition to a handful of original, pop/folk-inflected tracks. Although the album was generally well reviewed, its lone single, "One More for the Road," did not chart. Many feel this was due to Capitol's being distracted by the feud between Bowen and the label's biggest star at the time, Garth Brooks. The disagreement ultimately ended with Bowen leaving the label and Simpatico falling through the cracks. The same year, Bogguss's Greatest Hits album was released and itself went gold.
Not long after Simpatico was recorded, Bogguss temporarily set her music aside to start a family. Bogguss and Crider's first child, Benton Charles Crider, was born on March 17, 1995. Sixteen months later, she was back with her sixth solo album (excluding her greatest hits compilation), entitled Give Me Some Wheels. During her hiatus, the climate of country music had changed considerably. Coming back from a prolonged absence from the spotlight (a year can be an eternity in the entertainment industry) and faced with a new crop of sexed-up, pop-oriented female singers such as Martina McBride, Faith Hill, and Shania Twain, Bogguss's traditional, straightforward style failed to connect with younger listeners. Despite being a consistent, well written effort, the record yielded disappointing sales.
After her next album, 1998's Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt, also proved unsuccessful, Bogguss was dropped from the Liberty/Capitol label. With her typical grace and aplomb, she issued the following statement on February 18, 1999:
| “ | I had a great tenure with Capitol, during which I weathered a lot of changes in both personnel and philosophy. From Jim Foglesong to Pat Quigley and everyone in between, I appreciate having been a part of the Capitol family. We celebrated a lot of successes together, including Grammy nominations, hit records, and platinum albums. I have a number of projects on my plate right now. This gives me the freedom to pursue those opportunities. | ” |
[edit] Indie Label recording career
- In May, 1999, Bogguss found a new home with Nashville-based fledgling label Platinum Records, headed by chief George Collier, who had formerly worked at Capitol. Within three months, she had released her debut, a self-titled album, not to be confused with the independently produced LP from her days as a traveling folk troubadour. (Adding to the confusion is the fact that the album is sometimes referred to as It's a Perfect Day.) Again, the album floundered, with only one single even making an appearance on the country charts.
In 2001, Bogguss decided to form her own record label, Loyal Dutchess. Its first release was the album Live at Caffé Milano, culled from three separate 1999 performances at the now-closed Caffé Milano in Nashville, TN. This release is only available for purchase at Bogguss's official website. A few months later, she released the holiday album, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, a combination of new and previously available material included through a special licensing agreement with her old label, Capitol. In addition to being available at her website, the CD was also offered through Amazon.com, select retailers, and at her live performances.
Finally, in March, 2003, Bogguss and her own Loyal Dutchess Records label secured a deal with Compadre Records. Her first release on this label was the pure Western swing album, Swing, that she had been recording with producer Ray Benson, the 6'7" frontman of Western swing group Asleep at the Wheel. Although the album saw only lukewarm sales (it reached #6 on the jazz album charts, but failed to appear on the Billboard 200), it was a critical success, earning Bogguss some of her most positive reviews since she landed on the Nashville scene 15 over years earlier.
The Compadre Records deal also breathed new life into her previous seasonal offering, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, which received widespread retail distribution for the 2003 holiday season under its new label.
[edit] Life today
Still with Compadre Records, Bogguss is hard at work on her next album. Previews of several selections from the as-yet-untitled release have already been offered during live performances at the Grand Ole Opry, on radio appearances, and elsewhere. In the meantime, Bogguss has booked a solid block of shows throughout the United Kingdom with fellow songwriters Gretchen Peters and Matraca Berg, as part of the intimate "Wine, Women and Song" tour. She also continues to perform reguarly throughout the United States, where she is followed by a small but devoted group of fans.
[edit] Trivia
- Bogguss used the name Loyal Dutchess Music for her publishing company and then Loyal Dutchess Records for her own label. It has been said that she had a dog named Dutchess and the name was chosen in her memory.
- Several members of Bogguss's fan club have taken to calling themselves the SBSBS, or Society of Benevolent Suzy Bogguss Stalkers.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
| Year | Singles | U.S. Hot Country Singles Chart | Album |
| 1987 | "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" | #68 | -- |
| 1987 | "Love Will Never Slip Away" | #69 | -- |
| 1987 | "Come As You Were" | -- | -- |
| 1988 | "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" | -- | Somewhere Between |
| 1989 | "Somewhere Between" | #46 | Somewhere Between |
| 1989 | "Cross My Broken Heart" | #14 | Somewhere Between |
| 1989 | "My Sweet Love Ain't Around" | #38 | Somewhere Between |
| 1990 | "Under the Gun" | #72 | Moment of Truth |
| 1990 | "All Things Made New Again" | #72 | Moment of Truth |
| 1991 | "Hopelessly Yours" (with Lee Greenwood) | #12 | The Best of Lee Greenwood |
| 1991 | "Someday Soon" | #12 | Aces |
| 1992 | "Outbound Plane" | #9 | Aces |
| 1992 | "Aces" | #9 | Aces |
| 1992 | "Letting Go" | #6 | Aces |
| 1993 | "Drive South" | #2 | Voices in the Wind |
| 1993 | "Heartache" | #23 | Voices in the Wind |
| 1993 | "Just Like the Weather" | #5 | Something Up My Sleeve |
| 1994 | "Hey Cinderella" | #5 | Something Up My Sleeve |
| 1994 | "You Wouldn't Say That To A Stranger" | #43 | Something Up My Sleeve |
| 1994 | "Souvenirs" | #65 | Something Up My Sleeve |
| 1994 | "One More for the Road" | -- | Simpatico |
| 1996 | "Give Me Some Wheels" | #60 | Give Me Some Wheels |
| 1996 | "No Way Out" | #53 | Give Me Some Wheels |
| 1997 | "She Said, He Heard" | #57 | Give Me Some Wheels |
| 1998 | "Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt" | #75 | Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt |
| 1998 | "Somebody to Love" | #33 | Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt |
| 1999 | "From Where I Stand" | #67 | Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt |
| 1999 | "Goodnight" | #66 | Suzy Bogguss |
| 1999 | "Love Is Blind" | -- | Suzy Bogguss |
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | U.S. Country Albums | U.S. Top Albums |
| 1989 | Somewhere Between | #41 | -- |
| 1990 | Moment of Truth | -- | -- |
| 1991 | Aces | #15 | #83 |
| 1992 | Voices in the Wind | #31 | #116 |
| 1993 | Something Up My Sleeve | #27 | #121 |
| 1994 | Greatest Hits | #38 | #190 |
| 1994 | Simpatico | #55 | -- |
| 1996 | Give Me Some Wheels | #51 | -- |
| 1998 | Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt | #42 | -- |
| 1999 | Suzy Bogguss | #73 | -- |
| 2001 | Live at Caffé Milano | -- | -- |
| 2001 | Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas | -- | -- |
| 2002 | 20 Greatest Hits | -- | -- |
| 2003 | SwingA | #66 | -- |
AAlbum also went to #6 on the U.S. Jazz Albums chart and #46 on the U.S. Independent Albums.
[edit] References
- Bufwack, Mary A. "Suzy Bogguss." In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. (1998). Paul Kinsgbury, Ed. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 43.
- "Suzy Bogguss" in Country Music: the encyclopedia. (1997). Irwin Stambler, Grelun Landon. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 40-41.
