10 Facts about Jeff Healey

Jeff Healey at the Long Beach Blues Festival in California – By Masahiro Sumori – Wikimedia Commons

10 Facts about Jeff Healey

Norman Jeffrey Healy, popularly known as Jeff Healy, was a Canadian jazz, blues, and rock singer. Healy became popular in the 80s and 90s due to his music. Besides singing, Healy was also a songwriter and a guitarist.

Jeff Healy was born on 25th March 1966 in Toronto and passed away on 2nd March 2008in his birth city (Toronto) at 41 years of age. Jeff Healy was adopted into a middle-class family as an infant and grew up in a Toronto Suburb called Natobico.

Healy is known by many due to his hit single “Angel Eyes” which peaked at #5 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Some of his other easily recognizable songs include “I Think I Love You Too Much” and “How Long Can A Man Be Strong.”

The following is a list of some facts about the life of Jeff Healy.

1. He Lost His Eyesight as A Child

Before he turned one, Healey was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer of the eyes known as retinoblastoma. Consequently, his eyes had to be surgically removed.

The doctors provided him with ocular prostheses, also known as glass eyes. Healey used these prostheses for the rest of his life.

2. Completed Education Up to The High School Level

Jeff Heley attended a School for the Blind in Brantford. This was up until he graduated in the seventh (7th) grade when he joined a local high school.  

The local high school in question is the Etobicoke Collegiate Institute in Toronto. This was where Healy learned his jazz skills and improved his guitar skills. Healey graduated and completed his high school education but did not proceed from this level.

Although he did not proceed past the high school education level, Healey successfully studied music theory and got a certificate in inharmony and arranging.

3. Started His Music Journey at A Very Young Age

Picture of a 12-string guitar – by Ashish Kamathi – Wikimedia Commons

At three (3) years of age, Healey received a small acoustic guitar. He taught himself how to use this guitar by playing it flat on his lap. At this stage, since Healy was self-taught, he used open tuning using a slide.

It wasn’t up until he joined the School for the Blind that he was taught about standard tuning. After grasping and understanding guitar playing, he played country music. After joining high school, Healy was able to play in jazz and concert bands that were available.

4. Healey Formed A Band at Age 15

At 15 years of age, Healey formed the band called Blue Direction. The members were; Jeff Healey as the first guitarist, Rob Quail on the second guitar, Jeremy Littler as the bassist, and Graydon Chapman as the drummer.

The four-piece band played cover tunes in clubs around Toronto. One of their most regular spots was the Colonial Tavern; a famous Jazz venue in Toronto that closed in the 1970s. The band split up later but Healy kept playing alone until he was 19.

5. He Rose to Fame Due to His Self-Managed Band (The Jeff Healy Band)

Jeff Healey (left) performing with Tom Lavin – Wikimedia Commons

In 1985, Jeff Healey and a friend went to a club in Toronto to listen to Albert Collins. The friend successfully convinced Collins to allow Healy to sit in for a song. Collins was impressed and decided to invite him backstage.

Healy began getting calls for club dates afterward. He, therefore, put together a trio that would later be known as the Jeff Healey Band. The trio included Jeff Healey, bassist Joe Rockman, and drummer Tom Stephen.

All members recognized the band’s potential and dropped all other commitments. The Jeff Healey Band toured extensively in Canada for about two years before they were signed to a record label.

He later created a Jazz band called The Jazz Wizards in the early 2000s.

6. The Jeff Healey Band was Signed to Arista Records in 1988

In 1988, the self-managed band collaborated with Toronto-based Forte Productions. They recorded a song and create a video demo tape which Stephen delivered to New York City record producers. The plan was to impress them and convince them to sign the band.

However, it was not to be and he left without getting any response. A few weeks later, Arista Records contacted and signed the Jeff Healey Band.

After signing for Arista Records, the band was asked to produce a 20-song soundtrack for the movie Road House. This was done under the production of producer Jimmy Lovine. The band was also offered speaking roles in the movie.

7. The Jeff Healey Band released Its first Album in 1988

Jeff Healey and his band recorded and released their first album in 1988. The album was titled See the Light and was produced by Jimmy Lovine. The album was a hit, appearing on the RPM top 100 charts in 1989. Some of the popular songs from the album include Angel Eyes, Hideaway, and Confidence Man.

The band went on to record four more albums while touring and performing in concerts. The other albums include; Hell to Pay (1990), Feel This (1992), Cover to Cover (1995), and Get Me Some (2000).

8. He Was Multitalented and Played More Than One Instrument or Genre of Music

A C-trumpet – by Berndt Meyer – Wikimedia Commons

Jeff Healey is not at all bound to a single instrument or genre in the music world. He is highly diverse and talented. Jeff Healey is recognized mostly as a guitarist and singer. However, he is also a renewed and accomplished songwriter.

In terms of instruments, jeff plays both the trumpet and the guitar. His music is also not limited to a single genre. He has produced rock, blues, jazz, and even country music. Often blending all or some to create something truly special.

9. He Died Due to Sarcoma

In 2005, Healey underwent surgery to remove two sarcomas that had been found in his legs. A Sarcoma is a malignant tumor. Eighteen months later, in January 2007, Healy had to undergo surgery yet again. This was to remove metastatic tissue that had been found in his lungs.

Over a year later, on March 2, 2008, Jeff Healey passed away in his hometown in Toronto at 41. The cause of Jeff Healey’s death was Sarcoma. He was then buried at Park Lawn Cemetery in Etobicoke, Ontario.

After his death, Jeff Healey was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2014.

10. He Has an Extensive Discography

Jeff Healey at the Long Beach Blues Festival – By Masahiro Sumori – Wikimedia Commons

Jeff Healey’s discography is highly extensive. He has five albums with the Jeff Healey Band, solo albums such as Mess of Blues (2008), several albums with The Jazz Wizards, and many singles.

There have been several posthumous albums that have been released. They include; Heal My Soul (2016) and Holding On (2016).

 One of his most popular songs to date is Angel Eyes from the album See the Light. This song was number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.