By Laurelle Walsh
The Methow Valley’s own Horse Crazy Cowgirl Band won the Marilyn Tuttle Best of the Best Harmony Award at last weekend’s Western Music Association 2014 Awards Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Horse Crazy competed in the festival’s harmony contest in the trio division, performing the traditional song “The Water is Wide,” with lyrics and vocal arrangements updated by band members Lauralee Northcott and Judy Coder.
“The competition was quite fierce,” said band member Jennifer Epps.
When another group received the trio award on Saturday night, “we were disappointed it wasn’t us,” Epps admitted.
But disappointment was quickly replaced by glee when Horse Crazy was called onto the stage to receive the Best of the Best Harmony Award. “We were super excited,” Epps said. “It’s the ultimate honor to receive this award.”
The Western Music Association, which lists among its Hall of Fame members Gene Autry, Sons of the Pioneers and Riders in the Sky, states that the Marilyn Tuttle Harmony Award “will be presented at the judges’ discretion to the harmony group judged to be the ‘best of the best.’”
Horse Crazy was a finalist for both Song of the Year and Entertainer of the Year in 2012. The band won the Crescendo Award in 2009 and Best Harmony Trio in 2009 and 2010.
To listen to Horse Crazy performing “The Water is Wide” and other songs, go to its website, www.horsecrazycowgirlband.com.
