Chicago Loop News
âHeather Horton-Pulling On Your Heart Stringsâ?
By John Gavin Sullivan
Open your front doors and windows, Chicago. Put your ears to the floors and walls, or simply open the windows in your car tonight and youâre bound to hear one of the most enthralling, sexy sirens to hit this cityâs music scene in years.
Her name is Heather Horton, and if you havenât heard of her deep-heart pounding performances, then youâre no longer âin-the-know.â This soon to be superstar has won⦠all the hearts and praise of all within earshot.
Heatherâs music captures a range of moods as expansive as her vocal range⦠God chose to create a Hawaiian-born beauty queen and give her the ability to become a self-taught pianist, guitarist, mandolin toting, concert-violinist. Wait though, because what will truly knock you off your seat and set your heart on fire is her shooting-startâvocal range. Good job, God!
Horton was born in Honolulu, adopted by two modest Wisconsin natives and brought just above our fair city (Madison, WI) to blossom. At the age of four, Heather sat down at their piano and, as if she were climbing onto a tricycle, began to do what came natural. At the age of eight she took her first violin in hand. Heather played the sonnets of Vivaldi and his protges-and any melody that happened to float past her ears over her parents Heathkit stereo. They bought sheet music but Heather played only what she heard.
On her ninth birthday the poetry writing began-words strung together in the rhythmic mindset of an innocent child. The age of twelve arrived with an invitation to play in the state-wide Youth Symphony Orchestra of Wisconsin. Adolescence brought a repertoire of classic rock, jazz and a strong embrace of one of Chicagoâs passionate cornerstones, the blues.
Horton entered the University Wisconsin, La Crosse and was given the role of concertmistress. Playing first violin was all good and fine for Heather but something more had yet to bloom in her ever evolving spiritâ¦Changing colleges,â¦Madison (WI) had yet to get their share and she still had a few tricks in her case. Working oneâs way through college isnât easy these days, so when a scholarship was offered as the prize for Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest (Miss America Pageant) it seemed worth the inexperienced risk. You can probably guess the result. Her gifts were beginning to pay off, but the pageant circuit wasnât Heatherâs bag. Afterward, (back in Madison) Heather auditioned for the collegeâs show choir, and her final passion was unveiled.
Music reviewers have said that Heatherâs vocal technique is rare and raw. She commands her vast vocal range with her own style of dense, clutching low notes and crisp unvarying highs.
After graduating college, Horton moved to Minneapolis, where she belted out cover tunes to hoards of mesmerized club-goers (âRemyâsâ?-formerly âRupertâs Orchestraâ?). Within months, she was pursued by rock legend, Prince. Horton declined upon realizing she needed to develop as a solo artist before locking herself into (someone elseâs) styleâ¦
Goodbye Minneapolis, hello Chicago. Heather began performing at Chicago hot spots and news has traveled fast. Mixing cover tunes with well received heartfelt originals, she became the buzz on the circuit.
From famous musicians to local legends, Heather has become a hot commodity. The world renowned âTony nâ Tinaâs Weddingâ?
(followed by the short lived jaw dropper, Tony ân Tonyâs Wedding) had the combined wisdom of producer Tony Tomaska and Jay
Leggett (Foxâs In Living Color, Ally Mc Beal, Drew Carey Show). The two felt compelled to create roles in both shows specifically honed around Heatherâs engulfing talents (Horton was picked up by Frankie Avalon to tour as a result of his performances in Tony nâ Tinaâs Wedding).
You may see this sky-rocketing enchantress and her band, throughout the city and nationally- (For more information visit HHROXX.COM). Heather is sure to pull on your heart strings and tug on your brain caps with her awe-inspiring musical abilities.