I found this out this morning while making Midnights breakfast (she’s our new beautiful Labrador Retriever).
Wow, taking about being blown away! I think that I will always remember where I was and what I was doing when I found out of this great musical lose! I can still remember when I found out that Stevie Ray Vaughan had passed. I actually called my wife right after finding out.
Rock and jazz musician Jeff Healey died Sunday in a Toronto hospital after a battle with cancer, his publicist said. He was 41.
Healey lost his sight at age one as a result of Retinoblastoma, a rare form of retinal cancer.
Retinoblastoma, is a cancer that hits children younger than 5 years of age.
Healey had the great honour of playing with George Harrison doing one of Harrison’s songs called As my guitar gently weeps. He also played with other guitar gods such as B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. It was Stevie ray who actually brought Jeff into the greater world musical spotlight. Being in the 1988 movie called “Road House” didn’t hurt either!
I was in his club called Healey’s in Toronto and saw Saga’s second last show in Canada, the last one was in my home town of Brantford, with the lead singer Michael Sadler. Nice place to see a show, go check it out.
My wife and I are God parents to my cousin’s son and he is blind. This happened as a result of contracting a disease called Toxoplasmosis. He is a very outgoing little fire cracker and has a love for all genres of music. He has developed a great singing/rapping voice and has actually recorded some tunes at a local recording company.
My cousin and his son went to a event for the blind that Jeff Healey was at around 3 years ago. His dad thought that it would be a blast for his son to meet him, so they both went up to talk to him. When they met, our godson went silent, if you actually know this little guy, you would think that I was making all this all up because he’s never Silent! He knew who Jeff was and what he accomplished so maybe that is why he was nervous about meeting him.
So let’s keep Jeff and his family in our prayers.
Jeff Healey
1966 – 2008
Thanks for showing this; never have I seen technique like that!
What a loss, he was a very talented guitarplayer.
Jens
A great loss to the guitar community.
If you think it looks neat, then next time you pick up a guitar try playing it in his position. I have and it’s very unique to say the lest!
There is a women, who is sadly not with us anymore and her name was Elizabeth Cotten. She was one of the greatest and most influential guitar players of all time. She started off playing banjo and then naturally progressed to guitar. Check out my site next Saturday, I should have it posted by then, because I wrote about this great hidden gem of a guitarist and her unique style of playing!
Keep on Jammin’
Most people haven’t either VintageP!
Just try to slow down in your mind just how he plays in this position. If you push your patience to the limit, you could pull it off but probably not to the degree that he did it.
What a true gift from God that guy had.
Keep on Jammin’ Jeff, where ever you are!
You said it Ed! Not only the guitar community but for all disadvantaged people everywhere!
Keep on Jammin’
Although I’m a metal player and have been for over 20 years, Jeff and Stevie both influenced me greatly. After years of practicing modes and scales, It was Stevie that really made me sit down and master pentatonic variations. It has made me a way better player.
The loss of them both…. I can not put it into words.
Great to see that you had some great players to aspire to COTLOD.
As the old saying goes “Slow down, I’m in a hurry” makes sense no matter what situation your in!
Keep on Jammin’