Country artist to star at Virginia City benefit

Community Chest, Inc.’s sixth annual A Night to Imagine benefit for community services will feature songs and stories by Suzy Bogguss, a crossover country music performer, on Friday, April 10, at Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City.

Suzy Bogguss, an Illinois native who has a handful of platinum and gold albums to her credit, contributed to the golden days of 1990s country with the release of her debut album, “Somewhere Between,” in 1989.

The Academy of Country Music honored her with the Top New Female Vocalist award, and she also scored a string of Top 10 singles with country radio staples like “Outbound Plane,” “Drive South,” “Hey Cinderella,” “Letting Go” and “Aces.”

With her latest record, “Lucky,” released last year, Bogguss reinterprets classic Merle Haggard songs from a female’s point of view.

“These are the songs that I related to, that I felt had a reason to sing. They all had something that I could give them, whether it was a particular passion to a lyric or a melody. Every melody on this whole project is one that I just love as a singer,” Bogguss said.

Tickets cost $50 each and are available at www.communitychestnevada.net, or in person at Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City; Sundance Bookstore in Reno; Comma Coffee and Benson’s Feed Store in Carson City.

Virginia City eateries like Red Dog Saloon and Café del Rio have agreed to donate a portion of sales on the evening of April 10 to the benefit. For those wanting to stay overnight, the Silverland Hotel has a limited number of discounted rooms available.

Community Chest is a nonprofit agency based in Virginia City. It runs a variety of programs including youth development, food security, employment assistance, mental health counseling and more. Proceeds from the event, with Barrick Gold as sponsor, will go to support these programs.

Doors open at 7:15 p.m., with the show following at 8 p.m. Piper’s Opera House is at 12 N. B St. in Virginia City.

For more information, call Erik Schoen or Sabrina Lupo at 775-847-9311, or email erik.communitychestnevada@gmail.com or sabrina.communitychestnevada@gmail.com.