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Blind Guitar Legend Jeff Healey Dies

Posted: 2008-03-03 11:42:33

Filed Under: Star Obituaries, Music News

TORONTO (March 3) - Blind rock and jazz musician Jeff Healey has died after a lifelong battle against cancer. He was 41.

Healey died Sunday evening in a Toronto hospital, said bandmate Colin Bray, who was in the room with Healey's family when the guitarist died.

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The Grammy-nominated Healey rose to stardom as the leader of the Jeff Healey Band, a rock-oriented trio that gained international acclaim and platinum record sales with the 1988 album "See the Light." The album included the hit single "Angel Eyes."

Healey had battled cancer since age 1, when a rare form of retinal cancer known as Retinoblastoma claimed his eyesight.

Due to his blindness, Healey taught himself to play guitar by laying the instrument across his lap.

'See the Light'

'Angel Eyes'

His unique playing style, combined with his blues-oriented vocals, earned him a reputation as a teenage musical prodigy. He shared stages with George Harrison, B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Bray said he and many others expected the guitarist to rally from this latest illness.

"I don't think any of us thought this was going to happen," Bray said. "We just thought he was going to bounce back as he always does."

Healey had undergone numerous operations in recent years to remove tumors from his lungs and leg.

Bray and fellow bandmate Gary Scriven remembered their frontman as a musician of rare abilities with a generous nature and wicked sense of humor.

Healey's true love was jazz, the genre that dominated his three most recent albums.

His love of jazz led him to host radio shows in Canada where he spun long-forgotten numbers from his personal collection of over 30,000 vinyl records.

His death came weeks before the release of his first rock album in eight years.

"Mess of Blues" is slated for a North American release on April 22.

He is survived by his wife, Christie, and two children.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2008-03-03 08:01:18

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1353 comments

Bluegrass Dist 07:34:05 AM Mar 19 2008

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Jeff was and is a very good musician. I loved him in Road House. He will be sadly missed. God Bless his family and friends. His music will live on. Rest in peace.

tomcattheone 11:43:49 AM Mar 12 2008

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DID HE PLAY IN THE MOVIE ROAD HOUSE?? WAS THAT HIM?

lt1pow 12:36:36 PM Mar 08 2008

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Jeff was so much to so many and his music will live on through our house..We won't forget...thanks for always rocking the house Jeff

diamondguyrome 09:40:50 AM Mar 08 2008

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Strange he sang angel eyes and he couldnt see.....now he can see...GOD BLESS YOU JEFF......

wthgrtn 02:03:04 PM Mar 06 2008

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SO LONG JEFF . WE MET A ONE OF HIS 1998 CONCERTS WE SHOOK HANDS AND CHATED THAT IL NEVER FORGET AND THE SHOW WAS UNBELIEVEABLE

wthgrtn 02:02:02 PM Mar 06 2008

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SO LONG JEFF . WE MET A ONE OF HIS 1998 CONCERTS WE SHOOK HANDS AND CHATED THAT IL NEVER FORGET AND THE SHOW WAS UNBELIEVEABLE

barbsbuilder 10:13:45 AM Mar 06 2008

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GOOD BYE JEFF SAY HI TO MY MOM AND DALE EARNHEART SR.
AND HAVE FUN PLAYING SONGS WITH STEVIE RAY, ELVIS, AND BUDDY HOLY
AND VISTING ALL OTHERS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. HAVE FUN JEFF YOU CAN SEE NOW AND GOT YOUR WINGS. R.I.P. BUDDY!

rypw8 08:45:07 PM Mar 05 2008

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Goodbye Jeff. Thanks for your music and your soulfulness. You'll always be with us.

Jennysnyangel 06:35:12 PM Mar 05 2008

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Some Comments Have Been So Negative...I Think It’s A Case of Jealousy…Evidently...Money Means More To Those Critics...
______________
My boyfriend also agrees with me. He is 6 years older than me lol. I met him at Agelessfriends.com, a nice place for Younger Women and Older Men, or Younger Men and Older Women to interact with each other. It's fabulous! Maybe you wanna check out.

pookiemang169 06:07:52 PM Mar 05 2008

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Jeff was a great musician and person. He over came alot of adversity in his life. Yet always kept pushing and he will be missed. We wll all miss you and your music

trgray53 03:12:26 PM Mar 05 2008

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Jeff will be missed by many, here on planet E. His style was self, and his burdon, added to his passion for music. Guitarists, bow your heads, and honor one of the greats of the 6 string. Scriven and Bray, you guys were a compliment, and groove machine, for Jeff. I'm sorry for Jeff's wife and children, they will miss him most. God bless, Jeff, keep on rockin, a better life awaits you.

a1horsepower 01:44:23 PM Mar 05 2008

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Now You can Jam with Mark St.John - - -God Bless You !

micamotherslove 12:42:37 PM Mar 05 2008

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I am so sorry for the family's lose. I know how they feel I lost my daddy to cancer in 2003 and it is so hard to see them go.But we know one thing they are with our heavenly father and they suffer no more.God be with you.

redjadesky 12:35:53 PM Mar 05 2008

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Wow, that royally sucks. Jeff was a rare talent, and his unique style of playing definitely left an impression on me. With eyes to see, and wings to fly, you are now free.