Post by kagasmistress on Mar 6, 2008 14:20:54 GMT -5
He was one of my favorite Canadian musicians.
www.chez106.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20080303_090520_1276
Jeff Healey dies
March 03, 2008 - 9:05 am
Jeff Healey has died after a lifelong battle against cancer. He was 41. Reports say that Healey died early Sunday evening in a Toronto hospital. His family was apparently by his side when he passed away. Healey and his Jazz Wizards were to have performed this Saturday at Centrepointe Theatre. The show was abruptly cancelled last week because of Healey's "ongoing cancer treatment." At the time, only those close to him knew how sick he was. Healey had cancer since he was a child, with retinoblastoma claiming his eyesight when he was very young. He had undergone numerous operations in recent years to remove tumours from his legs and lungs. Bandmate Colin Bray told the Associated Press "I don't think any of us thought this was going to happen. We just thought he was going to bounce back as he always does." Healey rose to stardom in the late 80's, with platinum selling albums and numerous sold-out shows here in Ottawa. Rainbow Bistro owner Danny Sivyer told the Ottawa Citizen this morning "He was just an awesome guitar player. He blew us away the first time we heard him. We were setting up, it was a busy night, and we looked over and there was this three-piece band with a blind 19-year-old musician.Then we sat down and listened and the whole room was stunned." Jeff Healey first picked up the guitar when he was three years old, and though he couldn't see, he taught himself to play by laying his intrument across his lap. Highly respected by fellow musicians, he shared stages with George Harrison, B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Healey was to release his first rock album in eight years in a few weeks. As of this time, "Mess of Blues" is still slated to come out on April 22. Healey is survived by his wife, Christie, and two children.
www.chez106.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20080303_090520_1276
Jeff Healey dies
March 03, 2008 - 9:05 am
Jeff Healey has died after a lifelong battle against cancer. He was 41. Reports say that Healey died early Sunday evening in a Toronto hospital. His family was apparently by his side when he passed away. Healey and his Jazz Wizards were to have performed this Saturday at Centrepointe Theatre. The show was abruptly cancelled last week because of Healey's "ongoing cancer treatment." At the time, only those close to him knew how sick he was. Healey had cancer since he was a child, with retinoblastoma claiming his eyesight when he was very young. He had undergone numerous operations in recent years to remove tumours from his legs and lungs. Bandmate Colin Bray told the Associated Press "I don't think any of us thought this was going to happen. We just thought he was going to bounce back as he always does." Healey rose to stardom in the late 80's, with platinum selling albums and numerous sold-out shows here in Ottawa. Rainbow Bistro owner Danny Sivyer told the Ottawa Citizen this morning "He was just an awesome guitar player. He blew us away the first time we heard him. We were setting up, it was a busy night, and we looked over and there was this three-piece band with a blind 19-year-old musician.Then we sat down and listened and the whole room was stunned." Jeff Healey first picked up the guitar when he was three years old, and though he couldn't see, he taught himself to play by laying his intrument across his lap. Highly respected by fellow musicians, he shared stages with George Harrison, B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Healey was to release his first rock album in eight years in a few weeks. As of this time, "Mess of Blues" is still slated to come out on April 22. Healey is survived by his wife, Christie, and two children.