Suzy Bogguss American country singer Date of Birth: 30.12.1956 Country: USA

Biography of Suzy Bogguss

Suzy Bogguss is an American country singer and songwriter who gained fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She was born on December 30, 1956, in Aledo, Illinois. Bogguss began singing at a young age, performing in her local church choir, Angel Choir, at the College Avenue Presbyterian Church. Her parents encouraged her talent by paying for piano and percussion lessons during her childhood. When Bogguss developed an interest in the guitar during her youth, her parents supported her choice, although they had hoped she would continue playing the piano.

During her time in school, Bogguss participated in various theatrical productions and received recognition as one of the best actors. In 1975, she enrolled at Illinois Wesleyan University and often performed in local cafes and clubs during her free time. After a few years, she transferred to Illinois State University, where she studied art.

After graduating from university, Bogguss spent several years touring the country, performing in the West, Northeast, and even in several cities in Canada. In 1981, she released her debut album, "Suzy," which she sold exclusively at her performances but did not achieve widespread success. In 1985, she settled in Nashville and worked as a demo singer while performing at local clubs at night.

In 1986, Bogguss had a breakthrough when she performed at Dollywood, a theme park named after country singer Dolly Parton. The successful performances led Bogguss to record several tracks, which were distributed during her concerts at Dollywood. It was during this time that Bogguss met singer Doug Crider, who would later become her husband.

Eventually, Bogguss's recording caught the attention of Jim Foglesong, who offered her a record deal with Liberty/Capitol. In 1987, three singles from her debut album, "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire," "Love Will Never Slip Away," and "Come As You Were," charted nationally.

In 1989, Bogguss released the album "Somewhere Between," which became a commercial success and achieved platinum status. The album received critical acclaim for its blend of traditional and contemporary country music. In the same year, Bogguss was named "Best New Female Vocalist" by the Academy of Country Music.

Bogguss continued her success with the release of her third album, "Moment of Truth," produced by Jimmy Bowen. The album featured the hit duet "Hopelessly Yours" with Lee Greenwood, which reached the 12th position on the Country Singles Chart and received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.

In 1991, Bogguss released the album "Aces," which further solidified her commercial success, reaching platinum status. She received the Horizon Award from the Country Music Association for this album, recognizing her significant artistic growth and development. Her following two albums, "Voices in the Wind" and "Something Up My Sleeve," released in 1992 and 1993, respectively, achieved gold status. The single "Drive South" reached the number one position on the national chart, becoming Bogguss's highest-charting song to date.

In 1994, Bogguss recorded the album "Simpatico" with legendary guitarist Chet Atkins. However, due to disagreements between Jimmy Bowen and the label's main star, Garth Brooks, the album did not achieve the same level of popularity as Bogguss's previous works.

Despite this setback, her compilation album "Greatest Hits" achieved positive sales and received gold certification. After the release of "Simpatico," Bogguss took a small break from music to focus on her family. She gave birth to her first son, Benton Charles Crider, on March 17, 1995, and, after 16 months, she returned to the studio to record her solo album "Give Me Some Wheels."

During her hiatus, the country music market had significantly changed, shifting towards pop-influenced female performers such as Martina McBride, Sara Evans, and Shania Twain. Bogguss's classic style no longer fit into the industry's trends, resulting in poor album sales.

Her 1998 album "Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt" also faced disappointing sales, leading Capitol Nashville to end their contract with Bogguss.

In May 1999, Bogguss signed with Platinum Records and released the album "Suzy Bogguss" three months later. Despite producer George Collier's efforts, the album did not gain popularity.

In 2001, Bogguss founded her own label, Loyal Dutchess, and released the album "Live at Caffé Milano," which featured three parts of a live performance at the Caffé Milano club. The album was only available for sale through Bogguss's website.

In 2003 and 2007, she released two albums, "Swing" and "Sweet Danger," respectively, which reignited the public's interest in classic country music.