
DATE: Thursday, September 18, 1997          TAG: 9709170165

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 08   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: FRANKLIN                          LENGTH:   74 lines

ACES UP REUINTES FOR WE BE JAMMIN'

Donald Goodwin and William A. ``Andy'' Hengel are taking another shot at togetherness.

Their group, Aces Up, will close this season's We Be Jammin' Thursdays concert by jammin' together tonight, and with a to-do at Fred's Restaurant on Sept. 25.

Goodwin has a two-fold interest in tonight's gig.

Four years ago, he helped the downtown concerts get started. In 1980 he and Hengel co-founded Aces Up.

``The group broke up in 1993,'' Goodwin said. ``I wanted to do the reunion as the grand finale for this year's concert series. The whole gang will be there.''

That means a six-piece band doing country rock - mostly original songs, some covers.

Goodwin shifted to rhythm and blues when he co-founded Island Boy after Aces Up went down. Hengel went into solo acoustic work, recording a CD in Nashville, appropriately called, ``Alone.''

Before he got that way, Aces Up cut a CD, ``Different Suits,'' which sold very well, regionally.

Will there be another Aces Up album? Possibly.

``We might go back to the studio for a project. It's in the talking stage,'' Goodwin said. ``If we do, we'll include some songs that weren't in ``Different Suits,'' and we'll have some new stuff.''

It is a project the fans will look for since Aces Up built a good-sized following in its heyday. Favorite songs include ``Don't Look Back,'' and the samba, ``You Can't Hide.''

Goodwin and Hengel began as an acoustic duo in 1980. Some other top area musicians joined them from time to time until Aces Up added up, in 1990, to a six-piece band.

They performed with such national acts as Greg Allman, The Marshall Tucker Band, Pure Prairie League, Ricky Nelson, and the Atlanta Rhythm Section.

Island Boy rhythms are on CD, a release called, ``Carry Out/Delivery.''

Where, you might query, did that name come from? There is no song with that title in the album.

``The cover photograph,'' Goodwin said, ``showed a place to eat and the restaurant had that sign.''

A good sign of togetherness is the songwriting involving him and Hengel.

``We collaborated on some material and went to Nashville,'' Goodwin said. ``We met with Milsap Publishing - owned, of course, by Ronnie Milsap - gave 'em some songs, got some advice.''

It was a ``don't-call-us-we'll-call-you-'' event.

``We'll get back to them if we want them to pitch some of the songs to some major record companies,'' said Goodwin, who works in Franklin's Building, Planning and Zoning office. Music is soloist Hengel's solo career.

Aces Up enthusiasts can see the band tonight at We Be Jammin' Thursdays, and at Fred's a week later. ILLUSTRATION: Photo courtesy of ACES UP

Aces Up will close this season's We Be Jammin' Thursdays concert

series tonight and plays at Fred's Restaurant on Sept. 25.

Graphic

WHERE THEY PLAY

WHAT: We Be Jammin' Thursdays final 1997 concert - Aces Up.

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. tonight.

WHERE: South Main Street, downtown Franklin, at the bulkhead.

COST: Free.

FOR INFORMATION: Call 562-8511.

ALSO: There is a clown for the children; food and beverages are

available. Bring a lawn chair.