'Girl, I feel it when you look at me'

Jeff Healey, the blues-rock guitar virtuoso whose lifelong blindness led him to create a unique way of playing the music he loved, died Sunday in Toronto, where he also was born. He was 41.

Healey died of cancer, a disease he had lived with his entire life. At age 1, he lost both eyes to retinoblastoma, a rare cancer. He was only three when he started playing guitar, strumming it as he sat in a chair with the instrument laid across his lap.

Healey's career took off in the '80s, when he acted and performed in the Patrick Swayze flick "Road House." An Arista Records executive was impressed, and the company signed Healey. In 1988, his first single "Angel Eyes" would become a big crossover hit. (Click video link above to listen)

His official website made the announcement of Jeff's death on Sunday, reporting that last year he underwent surgery to remove cancerous tissues from his legs and lungs. Aggressive treatment failed to halt the spread.

His newest album -- "Mess of Blues" -- is set for release on March 20.

Comments

[Marissa]

That's really sad news. I had no idea that is what caused his blindness. I just thought it was amazing that it didn't stop him from playing.
It always gives me a wake up tap when someone my age passes away (no matter the reason).

Thanks for sharing the info, Steve.

[Spears]

For some reason, I thought his fame came before his appearance in Road House. Mainly because it's hard to imagine anyone's career improving after being in that movie.

"Angel Eyes" is a classic though. And I'm sure I'll have a tough time getting it out of my head anytime soon.

[Marissa]

I was thinking the same thing about his fame. I swear knowing who he was before that movie. Perhaps I've just tried to wipe Road House out of my memory bank and I walk away remembering Jeff Healey.

[jane]

Damn cancer. And so young -- I didn't realize that. Great song to have as his legacy.

[Al]

God bless that man......one of the few guys I really respected in music.

[Bassnote]

Sad news, like Marissa, I was unaware that cancer caused his blindness. I have his second and third albums (Hell To Pay & Feel This). He had a hit off 'Hell to Pay' with a song called 'I Think I Love You Too Much', that was written by Mark Knopfler. He also did a good remake of 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' with George Harrison playing rhythm guitar and singing back up. A truly talented man. It's terrible that he had to struggle with that accursed disease all his life.

[norby]

I was never a fan of his so like others I didn't know that his blindness was caused by cancer. I'm also surprised by how young he was, I definitely would have assumed he was much older than 41.

Very sad.

[Bassnote]

I did some checking because I thought he was famous before Road House, and he was. His first album 'See The Light' was released in September of 1988. Road House was released in May or June of 1989.

[Sherrie]

I remember recognizing him the first time I saw Roadhouse in the theater. However, when I saw his death noted today on the Headline News crawl, my first through was Roadhouse. (Honestly, in any touchstone life event, shouldn't all of our first thoughts be of Roadhouse?)

[Music Web Navigator]

All about Jeff Healey:
http://musicwn.com/browse.php?artist=Jeff+Healey

[JEAN GREIG]

MY HEART IS HURTING SO BAD RIGHT NOW OVER JEFF AND NOW PATRICK SWAYZE WHY GOD ARE WE LOSEING TWO GREAT MEN HERE I HOPE THIER FAMILEYS ARE GOING TO GET THROW THIS I KNOW ITS HEARD MY PRAYES ARE WITH YOU ALL.