jeff healey
DESCRIPTION
1966-2008. Jeff Healey. Jeff Healey. Canadian bluesman Unorthodox guitar playing posture Blind from infancy. Etobicoke, Ontario. West-end suburb of Toronto (Canada's largest city) Jeff Healey born 25 March, 1966 Adopted at 3 months by Bud and Yvonne Healey; never knew his natural parents. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Jeff Healey
1966-2008
Jeff Healey
Canadian bluesman
Unorthodox guitar playing posture
Blind from infancy
Etobicoke, Ontario
West-end suburb of Toronto (Canada's largest city)
Jeff Healey born 25 March, 1966
Adopted at 3 months by Bud and Yvonne Healey; never knew his natural parents
RetinoblastomaRetinoblastoma
Rare but deadly cancer of Rare but deadly cancer of the eyesthe eyes
Healey was diagnosed at 8 Healey was diagnosed at 8 monthsmonths
Both eyes were surgically Both eyes were surgically removedremoved
Healey wore prosthetic Healey wore prosthetic eyeseyes
Early Years
Bud (pictured) and Yvonne Healey encouraged Jeff to pursue music
First guitar: age 3
Early Influences
Eric Clapton
John Lee Hooker
Muddy Waters
(Click names to listen)
Playing Posture
Traditional posture: guitar is held upright, against the torso
Healey played with the guitar flat on his lap
Youth
In his teens, Healey began to establish a presence playing blues and jazz
cafes throughout the Toronto area.
At age 17, he formed his first band.
...and on to college radio!
DJ for University of Toronto's CIUT-FM
Employed Healey's extensive collection of 78 RPM records
Healey would live to collect about 30,000 records!
The Jeff Healey Band
Met at an open jam session:
Joe Rockman (bass)
Tom Stephen (drums)
Discovery
JHB was spotted by blues greats Albert Collins and Stevie Ray Vaughan at this gig
Soon signed with Arista Records
First LP• See the Light,
September 1988
• 3x Platinum in Canada; Juno Award
• “Angel Eyes” remains best-known song
Road House (1989)
• JHB appeared in the film and provided the soundtrack
• Healey plays “Cody,” a blind white bluesman (typecasting!)
Second LP
• Hell to Pay released in 1990
• Juno for “Canadian Entertainer of the Year”
• Famous guest musicians
Subsequent Releases
• Feel This, 1992
• Cover to Cover, 1995
• Greatest Hits, 1998
– Contract dismissal from Arista
• Get Me Some, 2000
– Released on Eagle Records
Turn of the Millennium
• Renewed interest in jazz
• Return to radio: My Kinda Jazz on the CBC
Honourary Doctorate
McMaster University (Hamilton, ON)
Honourary Doctorate of Letters
3 June, 2004
Jeff's cancer returns
• 2006: leg sarcomas
• 2007: lung metastases
Jeff succumbed to the disease on 2 March, 2008
Posthumous Recognition
• Mess of Blues was released shortly after death
• Inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame
• Jeff Healey Park
Legacy
History
• Blues as a genre appreciates covers of well-known “standards,” which were Healey's specialty.
• We will explore three songs written (or cowritten) by Jeff:
– “See the Light”
– “Cruel Little Number”
– “That's What They Say”
“See the Light”
“Cruel Little Number”
“That's What they Say”