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From The Times
March 4, 2008

Jeff Healey

Canadian blues-rock guitarist who took up the trumpet and produced a number of jazz albums

Jeff Healey

Jeff Healey was a virtuoso electric guitarist who made his name leading the blues-rock trio that bore his name. Blind from shortly after birth, he played his guitar in novel fashion, seated with the instrument on his lap rather than slung round his neck. Later in his career he taught himself to play the trumpet and enjoyed a second career playing traditional jazz.

Born in 1966 in Toronto, he was adopted at birth and never knew who his parents were. Named Norman Jeffrey Healey by his foster parents, he lost his sight when he was only a few months old because of the rare eye cancer retinoblastoma. By the age of 3 he was taking his first steps on the guitar.

Too small to play the instrument in the conventional way, he coaxed notes out of the strings by playing the guitar flat on the floor and subsequently, stretched out on his knees. Necessity, as so often, became the mother of invention, and he used the technique all his life, later claiming it gave him greater flexibility in bending and hammering the strings.

By 6 he was performing in public and before his teens was playing in several bands. He also began collecting records, many of them rare vintage jazz and blues 78s. His collection ultimately ran to 25,000 discs and at the age of 14 he precociously landed a weekly show on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation featuring selections from his library. He loved almost every kind of music but in his own guitar-playing the blues emerged as his preferred style. Among the first to recognise his talent was Albert Collins, one of blues music’s elder statesmen, who became his first champion and invited him to share the stage at a show in Toronto. Before he was out of his teens he had also played with Stevie Ray Vaughan and B. B. King.

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By then he was already leading the band Blue Direction as guitarist and singer, playing mostly covers in bars around Toronto. On Sunday nights he joined the regular jam sessions at the city’s Grossman’s Tavern, where he met the drummer Tom Stephen and bassist Joe Rockman whom he recruited to form the Jeff Healey Band. Signed to Arista Records, the triomade its debut album, See The Light, in 1988. Mixing original songs and covers, a version of John Hiatt’s Angel Eyes gave them a Billboard Top 5 single, while a cover of Freddie King’s Hideaway was nominated for a Grammy as best instrumental. The album itself sold a million copies in the US and a further 300,000 in Canada, catapulting Healey within the space of a few months from playing clubs to selling out stadiums.

The album’s success also led to his appearance in the 1989 film Roadhouse, starring Patrick Swayze. His band travelled to Los Angeles to cut the film’s soundtrack with producer Jimmy Iovine. The following year Healey won the Entertainer of the Year award at the Junos, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys.

A second album, Hell to Pay, featured guest appearances by Mark Knopfler and George Harrison. It was followed in 1992 by Feel This and three years later came Cover to Cover, a collection of rock standards and blues classics that earned a second Grammy nomination. None of his subsequent albums, however, quite repeated the commercial success of the band’s debut and a five-year gap followed before Get Me Some in 2000.

During the lay-off Healey opened his own club in Toronto, where he played with a rock band on Thursday nights and with a jazz combo he dubbed Jeff Healey’s Jazz Wizards on Saturday afternoons. When he took up the trumpet, it was his jazz group that became the main focus of his musical activity: on the albums Among Friends (2002), Adventures in Jazzland (2004) and It’s Tight Like That (2006).

At the time of his death, Healey was about to release Mess of Blues, his first rock album in eight years and he was due to tour Britain and Europe next month. Unfortunately, the genetic mutation that had cost him his eyesight always carried with it the risk of secondary cancer, and in 2007 he underwent surgery to remove cancerous tissue from both his legs, and later from his lungs.

He died in hospital with his wife, Cristie, at his side, and is also survived by their two children.

Jeff Healey, guitarist, was born on March 25, 1966. He died of cancer on March 2, 2008, aged 41

jeff healey was a great guitarist he was the best in our hearts

miss you too much!

jasmine, mundelein, IL

Just heard about the death of a very very talent man .He will always be with us we have your song Angel Eyes for our wedding song 1990 rest in peace blues man

MaryLou,Chris, green cove springs, United States

Beautiful man. Beautiful voice.

I miss you Jeff. We all miss you.

Enjoy The Light, brother.

Padraig Adams, Belfast, Ireland

I've had the honor to see Jeff play a few times, and every time he just seems to amaze me. What a talented man he is.
He was very generous with his time to charities around town.
He will sadly be missed by many.

RIP my friend

Kevin , Toronto, Canada

Just looking on the web to see when next British concerts due. Shocked to hear of Jeff's death. Got most of his music and saw him live twice in England, once in Sheffield and once in Leeds, absolutely brilliant. Still got on tape BBC stuff from years ago which I thought were better than the originals. Will be sadly missed. commiserations to his family.

Norman Walker, Leeds, Yorkshire , England.

Norman Walker, Leeds, Yorkshire

Just cant believe what I have read. First heard Jeff & Band in the film RoadHouse. His guitar play was so incredibile that I re rented the film countless times just to hear him play. INTO THE LIGHT could not be got here when released, but a few years later while in the USA on buisness I got the album.

He was a legend, no one will ever recreate his sound. Imortalised for all time by his music and lyrics.
RIP Jeff.

Tom , Kildare, Ireland

I first heard of this remakable man back in late 1987 and when I first heard see the light I was blown away! I saw him in 1993 play Hammersmith and followed his music up untill his death. It is a sad loss to the music business and my heart goes out to his family rip Jeff.

Leigh Terry, Guildford,

Lucky those who got to see him playing... His "See the Light" album was one of my first cassettes and an all-time favorite. His passing away was a shock. Rest in peace, Jeff. It doesn't matter waht they say; when we listen to your music, you're here.

Veo, Bucharest, Romania

I saw Jeff Healey & his band play at his club in Toronto in January 2004, while I was on a trip from my native Europe. That night, he and his band played a great cover of "House On The Rising Sun". At the end of the gig, he came over to the bar for a drink with his band members next to where I was sitting , and I had a brief chat with him and his lead guitarist. He struck me as a light-hearted and humble man who didn't take himself too seriously. I had hoped to see him perform again on my next trip to T.O. RIP, Jeff...you were a gifted man and will be missed :(

RS, Central Finland, Finland

We had the pleasure of seeing Jeff in a pub on the Lakeshore in Etobicoke. What a super performer he was and a super great voice. We were amazed at how well he could play his guitar despite his blindness. What a loss to the music world. our condolences to his wife and children. R.I.P. Jeff Healey - you certainly will be missed. Irene and George. Brampton, Ontario

Irene, Brampton, Ontario, Canada

A great and talented musician and a true humanitarian.

He also served a role model to the blind and never letting them forget that you can achieve anything.

His voice and his guitar were like hand and glove.

A great loss to all of us. He will be missed.

Judy, Etobickoe, Ont

Judy, Etobicoke, Ontario

Jeff Healey. To know him was to have your life enriched.
Rest In Peace my friend

Martin, Glasgow,

I had the enormous please of hearing Jeff many times over the past 10 years. Jeff loved the audience as much as we loved him. R.I.P Jeff. You will be missed.

Paulette, Toronto, Canada

Such a sad loss. I saw jeff in Liverpool in the 90,s. Brilliant gig. What a talented man!! Deepest sympathy to his family and friends...xxxxxxxx

sandra, liverpool, uk

An extremely talented musician, who brought many more listeners to appreciate jazz..-really enjoyed your radio show as well. Thank you so much for your music, Jeff. You'll be missed. You'll be in good company with the other great bluesmen in the sky.

Merle, Coquitlam, B.C.

Completly gutted. A real musician who could play. In a world of manufactured one hit pop groups any loss of a world class musician is great. This is huge. You were a real talent and sorely missed in this house.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Peace!

James, Glasgow,

Can you see the light?

Geert Breës, Antwerp, Belgium

I was fortumate to hear you play live a couple of times. Thank you Jeff, for sharing your wonderful gifts.

Shelley, Coquitlam BC, Canada

Jeff, you were among the best guitarists ive seen live, and i hope now you'll be enjoying good company with the other legends in the sky, youll never be forgotten, RIP.

m kilner, Los Angeles, California

I had the pleasure of meeting and spending some time with Jeff when he toured here in New Zealand back in the 90's. We kept in touch and remained friends for a number of years. I was shocked and very saddened to learn of his passing on Sunday.  A truly genuine all round nice guy with such talent and so much to give.  You have left a big whole in this world Jeff and will remain in my memories. My heart felt thoughts to Cristie, Rachel and Derek along with your family and friends at this very sad time.

Stephanie Rumble, Waitakere City, Auckland, New Zealand

just heard the news, cant believe it . I used to play angel eyes on repeat and my mother would say okay thats enough jeff healey. now I have my own kids and my 7 yr old daughter says " mom cant you play another song. my deepest sympathys go to his family. Jeff has alway been one of my favorite musicians, and so when I get home I will play angel eyes.

shannon, englewood, florida

How very odd. Only two weeks ago I purchased his first album on CD to replace the worn out vinyl copy that I have owned for 20 years. A truly remarkable talent and the only good thing about the film Roadhouse, in my opinion. Thank you Jeff, a truly inspirational man.

Moog, Melton, Suffolk

Thanks man.

Jan Ekkel, Oss, The Netherlands

I remember Jeff playing in London at the Town and Country Club. My brother took me to see him, and what a gig it was. What a guitar player! plus he could sing too. I just found out that he had died....what a shock! I cannot believe it. His poor wife and children. I feel very sorry for them. I wish them all the very best....time will heal. From, H.E.F

Henry Frost, espoo, finland

Heard Angel Eyes for the first time when I was 10. I'm 29 now, and it is still my favorite song of all time... what a talented musician he was... such a shame.

Danielle, Santa Barbara,

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