Guitarist Jeff Healey Dies at 41

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 2 Mar 2008 7:22 pm

May you rest in peace, Jeff.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/arti ... IgodLFSkqA

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 2 Mar 2008 7:31 pm

What a shame. The kid had it going, and played a mean guitar.

Jeff Garden · Post by **Jeff Garden** » 2 Mar 2008 8:28 pm

Thanks for posting this, Chris. People like Jeff are a gift for the short time they're with us...it always amazes me how people can overcome severe challenges in their lives to be an inspiration to others - and very often it seems like music is the common thread. God bless, Jeff and rest in peace - thanks for the music.

Michael Winter · Post by **Michael Winter** » 2 Mar 2008 8:33 pm

Wow... I didn't know he was still fighting that stuff. So young... So much talent... Gosh man, what a shock!
Can't wait to hear the new cd. I love his style!

"I'll miss you brother."

Mat Rhodes · Post by **Mat Rhodes** » 2 Mar 2008 8:59 pm

He was one of the only guitarists who could move me with his solos, especially in songs like "Confidence Man" and "See The Light". I had the LP and played the grooves off of it. What a loss.

I think his lack of sight gave him a more direct way of "tapping in".

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 2 Mar 2008 9:18 pm

This is very sad. I also didn't know he was so sick.

I remember seeing him in the late 80s playing John Hiatt's "Confidence Man" and remarking how mature he was both vocally and instrumentally. He could sure play and sing the blues with confidence and authority. But that just scratched the surface of his talent.

RIP, Jeff.

Mike Winter · Post by **Mike Winter** » 2 Mar 2008 11:06 pm

How sad...I just watched Roadhouse the other night and was reminded again of what a great talent he was. I thought he was past the cancer scare.

A load of talent...another one too soon gone.

http://www.jeffhealey.com/

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 3 Mar 2008 1:22 am

Very sad indeed, especially reading bout the his long term disease. A great talent
RIP Jeff, thanks for the Music.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 3 Mar 2008 2:14 am

I can only echo what Matt and Dave wrote. I didn't realize he was so young...
RIP, Jeff.

Archie Nicol · Post by **Archie Nicol** » 3 Mar 2008 4:16 am

Another sad loss. Last week I was watching You-Tube videos of Buddy Miles on the day before he died. Last night, I watched my Jeff Healey's `Live At Montreux` dvd. Then I get up this morning to this terrible news.

Arch.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 3 Mar 2008 4:56 am

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 3 Mar 2008 4:58 am

I saw Jeff in '89 and he was a terror on stage, standing up to play a few times and really tearing up his guitar a couple of times. I believe that the style he played gave him a different approach to guitar than anyone else. He was just a monster player. I thought he was doing well, this is pretty sad.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 3 Mar 2008 5:19 am

Something a lot of people don't realize about Jeff is that although he was best known for the music he performed he had a great passion for, and an encyclopedic knowledge of jazz. He hosted a CBC radio show where he would play selections from his personal collection of roughly 30,000 vinyl jazz records. He would talk extensively about early jazz instrumentalists (singers as well I believe) and hundreds of backup musicians who played and recorded as far back as the 1920s or earlier. This music played a major role in his life. Jeff Healey was a very special person on many levels.

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 3 Mar 2008 5:51 am

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 3 Mar 2008 6:03 am

I was aware of Jeff for years but never took time to check out his music until now. My mistake. He was a great guitarist. He played like Thumbs Carlisle played ... with incredible feel, tone, and a unique vibrato. Lots of feeling in every note. RIP.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 3 Mar 2008 6:53 am

It's just very sad.. This video, featuring Healey on trumpet and guitar in a traditional jazz setting, shows how his musicality went far beyond the electric blues/rock he was best known for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt6K9P0ExNc

Steinar

John Steele · Post by **John Steele** » 3 Mar 2008 8:30 am

I'm sorry to hear that. Jeff was supposed to do a concert here last week with the Jazz Wizards, but it was cancelled, and I figured he wasn't well. He was a kind, soft spoken, wonderful guy as well as an ace musician.
I'm glad Bill mentioned his jazz leanings. Alot of people had trouble understanding that the famous electric guitarist was the same person who hosted the radio program "My Kind Of Jazz", which featured early jazz from the 20's and 30's.
Thanks for the music, Jeff.
-John

Don Sulesky · Post by **Don Sulesky** » 3 Mar 2008 8:54 am

I'm so sorry to hear about this great musician.

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 3 Mar 2008 10:39 am

I saw him sit in with Asleep at the Wheel and he blew me away with his Charlie Christian type licks.

Richard Sevigny · Post by **Richard Sevigny** » 3 Mar 2008 11:18 am

A giant has passed.

See the Light indeed.

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 3 Mar 2008 2:39 pm

I liked Jeff's 'overhand' technique of fretting the strings on the guitar. The only other guitarist I saw who played that way (who was also blind) was Freddie McKenna on the CBC TV program 'Singalong Jubilee'.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 3 Mar 2008 4:51 pm

Here on Oahu, we have another very talented guitarist whom mirrors John, 'BB' Shawn Ishimoto, a great friend of Bobby Ingano, and was all over Bobby's killer 'Steel Reflections' CD. He took to steel imediately a few years ago, and was on a prominant stage 2 weeks later.
www.shawnishimoto.com

Bobby Caldwell · Post by **Bobby Caldwell** » 3 Mar 2008 5:19 pm

This is so sad. What a fine player Jeff was and to go at such a young age. He will be missed, Bobby

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 3 Mar 2008 10:25 pm

I had the pleasure of seeing Jeff Healey play as one of the featured artists at a free concert in a park in Nashville. He totally blew me away, chops, taste, passion, all of the essential ingredients for a great performance. He was truly an incredible player. May he Rest In Peace!

Robbie Bossert · Post by **Robbie Bossert** » 4 Mar 2008 12:54 am

A SUPER talent! R.I.P.

Robbie Bossert