Those musical
Horne sisters
By Dawne Belloise Precocious musicians Linda (with guitar) and Essie Horne.
Dawn Cohen
Inspired by the Dixie Chicks, Linda and Essie Horne became Crested Butte performers before they hit their teens. Linda Horne was only seven years old, and her sister Essie two years younger, when they watched a documentary that would deeply move them and forge their musical path. The film was a feature about the controversy surrounding the political statement of the Dixie Chicks, who openly condemned the Iraq invasion of 2003 by then-President George W. Bush. The once-popular group was boycotted by fans and blacklisted by conservative radio and media. The documentary was called “Shut Up and Sing,” and to the young Horne sisters, the Dixie Chicks were heroines, strong women to be emulated. Linda recalls, “They went against the politics of the day, so they pretty much lost their fan base. That spoke to me. I thought it was inspiring that they stood up for what they believed in and didn’t sell out. They wrote an album about [lead singer] Natalie Maines’ experiences of getting attacked by fans.” The story prompted 18
Linda and Essie to pursue music. Linda got her first guitar that year and began learning Dixie Chicks songs, and proceeded to win her kindergarten talent show. Essie remembers being equally inspired by the documentary, even though she was only five years old. “It was more about the strong will and powerful women, and we loved their music.” Essie wanted to play drums so they could have a band, so her father, Shaun, bought her a cheap toy set that quickly fell apart. Realizing Essie was serious about percussion, Shaun stepped up his game. “The next year Dad drove to Denver on Christmas Eve to get me a real drum set. I was six. I had the biggest present under the tree that year.” She began taking lessons from local drummer Ben Wright, which she still does. Most kids drop their early fascinations as they age, but both sisters continued in their musical pursuit. Linda began to expand her genres. “I realized music is a bottomless pit; you can never stop learning new things. There’s no roof to what you can learn as far as the music goes or whatever instrument you play.” She began attending the Crested Butte Music Festival’s Gypsy Jazz Camps as well as bluegrass and opera camps. She explored pop, folk and jazz classics, focusing on the great jazz singers.