
DATE: Thursday, October 9, 1997             TAG: 9710100990

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: Frank Roberts 

                                            LENGTH:   61 lines

SUZY BOGGUSS SPUN CORN TO GOLD

SUZY BOGGUSS WENT from corn to corn, from gold to gold. She was born in Aledo, Ill., which, she says, ``is about six miles from the Mississippi River. It's a cornfield town.''

Bogguss later cracked jokes in the Cornfield County cornfield during the TV ``Hee Haw'' heyday, as her career got into full swing.

The gold connection: She has a bachelors degree in art from Illinois State University, with a concentration in metalsmithery.

``I wanted to be a jeweler. I design jewelry - work with silver and gold,'' says Bogguss, who has two gold albums - ``Voices in the Wind,'' and ``Something Up My Sleeve.''

Even better, she's now mined platinum with her release ``Aces.''

Songwriter Bogguss is working with songwriter/hubby Doug Crider on an album due for spring release. He is the producer.

Their most recent production, Benton, was born in 1995.

Friday, his 39-year-old mom will be a Fleet Week guest at Town Point Park, singing some of her Capitol hits.

``I signed with them in 1987. My first album came out in '89,'' Bogguss said during a phone interview from her Nashville home. ``I've always been with the same folks - no, the folks have changed twice, the label is the same.''

Some of her hits are ``She Said, He Heard,'' ``Give Me Some Wheels'' and ``You Wouldn't Say That to a Stranger.''

Bogguss' favorite song is a little-known piece from ``Somewhere Between,'' her first album.

``It's `Night Rider's Lament,' a cowboy song with a universal message. It really speaks to me - to a lot of people. It tells us, follow your heart. Sometimes people don't understand that you're driven to do certain things.

``People ask me how do I stand this crazy life? I think, `How do you go into an office and do the same thing everyday?' Lives are different, and that's what the song is about.''

The charming performer has had songs on tribute albums to Bob Wills, The Eagles and The Beatles. In 1994, she recorded an album with Chet Atkins, ``Simpatico.''

Bogguss produced the successful effort. She co-produced five of her solo albums with Jimmy Bowen.

It's a far cry from her first job, netting her a $7 check.

After that, Bogguss toured the country in a camper truck, playing for donations in the town centers while advertising the tavern where she was to perform.

``When I told my folks I was going to be a singer, they weren't exactly happy, but they were supportive. They were scared to death.

``But when I moved to Nashville, mom was really supportive. She paid off my camper. She's still in Illinois - just turned 75 and started computer classes.

``I'm so proud of her. She's the e-mail queen.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

WANT TO GO?

Who: Suzy Bogguss with Wildfire, and David Ball, as part of Fleet

Week celebrations

When: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday

Where: Town Point Park, Norfolk

Admission: Free

Call: 441-2345