Jazz and Blues Lounge

In Memoriam: Jeff Healey

by balaspa on March 4th, 2008

It is another sad and empty day in the world of blues and jazz music.  One of the most-talented guys around in both of those genres passed away over the weekend, Jeff Healey.  He had been battling a rare form of cancer his entire life and he finally succombed to it over the weekend.  He was only 41 and leaves behind a wife and child.  You can find more at his website HERE.

Jeff was born in Toronto to a firefighter father and he lost his eyes when he was only one.  Jeff had the rare eye cancer known as retinoblastoma.  This cost him to lose both eyes and be fitted with prosthetics.  Despite this, he soon took to playing the guitar.  He started playing at the tender age of three and developed his style, which would become his trademark, even then.

Jeff played the guitar by placing it across his lap.  So, even his acoustic guitar would be like a lap-steel slide guitar.  Jeff was a musical prodigy and formed his band Blue Direction at the age of 17. 

Jeff had released rock and roll albums, but his true hearts was in playing classic jazz.  He was known to sit in with various jazz bands in his hometown of Toronto.  His band even showed up in the movie “Road House.”  Shortly after that he signed with Arista Records and released the album “See the Light” with the hit “Angel Eyes” and the album won numerous awards.

Healey eventually released CDs in the traditional jazz genre he so loved.  He also amassed a collection of over 25,000 78 rpm records.  Although known as a guitar player he also played trumpet and clarinet.  He also hosted a radio show for the Canadian Broadcasting Company called “My Kind of Jazz.”  He was planning on releasing his newest album “Mess of Blues” later this year.  Of course, the album will still be released, but with a pall of sadness now.

Jeff was hospitalized at St. Joseph’s Health Center in Toronto.  He died Sunday from the cancer that he had been battling since the age of one, the cancer having moved to other parts of his body.

So, the musical world is a little bit empiter out there.  Rest in peace Jeff Healey.

POSTED IN: Bands, Chicago, blues, jazz, records