Legendary Vocalist Linda Hornbuckle, 1955-2014

Legendary vocalist Linda Hornbuckle has passed away. The Oregonian reports Hornbuckle's longtime collaborator Louis Pain announced she died Oct. 4 in hospital. Hornbuckle has been fighting liver cancer since 2012. She was a beloved health educator with Multnomah County who worked with teens and families. A celebration of her life is Oct. 14 at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland.

Linda Hornbuckle sings Georgia on my mind as a tribute to the late Ray Charles

Linda Hornbuckle with the late Janice Scroggins at Mississippi Street Fair

Her friends and supporters had planned a “More Love for Linda” benefit to pay part of the cost of her medical bills. Instead, it will be a celebration of her life, Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m., and contributions are still being taken to pay the bills. Tickets are $20, with limited VIP tickets, available through www.TicketTomato.com.

Musicians featured that night include many of her best friends over the years: Quarterflash, Liv Warfield, Linda Hornbuckle Band, Andy Stokes, LaRhonda Steel, Soul Vaccination, Patrick Lamb, Norman Sylvester, and Eddie Martinez.

Famously, Hornbuckle started singing as a small child in her father’s church, the Grace & Truth Pentecostal Church, which was led by her father, Bishop Howard Hornbuckle. Since then she has thrilled audiences in the Pacific Northwest, Europe, Canada and across the U.S.

For many years she worked a community health specialist for the Multnomah County Health Department, educating teens about HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy. She also served on the board of Better People, a nonprofit dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated people find work and stability.

In recent years Linda performed regularly and recorded in a duo with award-winning pianist Janice Scroggins, as well as with the Linda Hornbuckle Band. A tireless supporter of local grassroots communities, Hornbuckle performed at countless fundraisers, including and especially the Waterfront Blues Festival benefitting the Oregon Food Bank.

Find links to her music on her website, www.lindahornbuckle.com.