We all know his songs, Angel Eyes is probably his biggest hit, (and one of my favourites) and the one he is well known for all over the world.
Jeff Healey, who has battled with cancer all of his life, being diagnosed with a rare form of retinal cancer at the young age of one, and claimed his life at age 41, on Sunday evening, March 02, 2008, at a hospital in Toronto Canada.
Retinoblastoma Cancer claimed his eye sight, but it didn't stop him from living his life, and being who he was born to be, a musician. Jeff braved all odds, and continued on with a grand career, going on to win a Juno award and his album went platinum internationally for his 1988 album, "See the Light." He also had been nominated in numerous awards, European, at home and abroad.
Jeff Healey's cancer had through the years spread into his leg and his lungs. He had been in the hospital for a week, with the lung cancer taking it's toll. No one expected that he would die, they expected that he would bounce back, like he always did.
Jeff's long struggle with cancer didn't discourage him from pursing his career.
He had the honor of gracing the stage with such rock legends as George Harrison, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and B.B. King. He was also nominated for a Grammy beside Carlos Santana. Jeff Healey had met and toured with legends such as ZZ Top, Little Feat, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt and many others. In 1994 he opened for The Rolling Stones, in the blast off to the Voodoo Tour. In 1996, his band also contributed to a Steven Segal Movie, The Glimmer Man, with Kennen Ivory Wayans, with the song ‘Bullet Proof.' Jeff Healey's career soared when his band was picked up by Arista Records in the U.S.
As for Jeff Healey and George Harrison, Healey released Hell To Pay, a star-studded project featuring Mark Knopfler, Paul Shaffer, Bobby Whitlock and George Harrison., all of whom appeared on the disc with six Healey band originals. The sophomore album went on to sell over 200,000 copies in Canada, went gold in the U.S., and sold two million units world-wide.
The Healey Band, also founded Forte Records and Productions, signing Amanda Marshall, for those of you who never heard of Amanda Marshall, her hot new sexy look, and husky new sound had gained her a claim to fame in Canada and the U.S. releasing two acclaimed albums, Amanda Marshall, Tuesday's Child. She's worth looking up, if you haven't heard of her, her music is amazing.
Healey is also well known in the Toronto Canada region, as he hosted a radio show on CBC, where he would play records from the legends of the past, from his personal collection of over 30,000 records.
Sadly, it's true, that cancer claimed Jeff Healey only weeks before the release of his first album in eight years, which is scheduled to be released on April 22, 2008. His album, "Mess of Blues", recorded by the Jeff Healey's Roadhouse, the blues club which Healey founded and named after his appearance in the 1989 Patrick Swayze's movie Road House.
Mess of the Blues, Jeff Healey's newest album, which as mentioned above, will be released on April 22, 2008, features two live performance that were recorded only months prior to his death.
The Grammy-nominated musician is survived by his wife Christie and two children; daughter Rachel, 13 and son Derek, 3.
The Canadians were exceptionally proud of Jeff Healey, most of them have seen him either playing at Niagara Falls Park, jamming at the local pub at Grossman's Tavern downtown TO, or touring across Canada in their local city, and he will be sadly missed.
The Jeff Healey Band members, a total of three musicians, are Tom Stephen and bassist Joe Rockman, and of course Jeff Healey.
You can always check back as my articles are always updated, and it will be updated as the release of his funeral arrangements are released.
Jeff Healey, will be sadly missed by all.
RIP Bud..
Sacreeta
