Jeff Healey

When Jeff Healey passed away in March, I have to admit I hadn't thought much about him for many years. Angel Eyes was his breakout hit in 1988, and came at a time when I was watching lots of Much Music after school.  Even though it probably wasn't "cool" to like that song as a teenage boy, the song - and Jeff - struck a chord with me. I think it was one of the seminal songs that gave me a deeper interest in music. How could this blind guy play a guitar so damn well? When I read that he had died, and saw all the outpouring of tributes for him, I felt a sudden guilt that I hadn't heard any of his recent work. For someone who influenced me so much, why didn't I know more about him? Apparently, I had been missing out on one of Canada's finest musical talents!  So, I went searching for some of his music and found an album called 'Live in Montreux (1999)". I'm a big fan of live albums, so I sat back, cranked the speakers, and for the next hour was completely spellbound. How did I not listen to more of this before? This was straight up, amazing, blues rock and roll. When the album finished, I hit play and listened to it all over again.

Jeff Healey was all set to release a new record when he passed away, and "Mess of Blues" is now out.  After many years persuing his passion for traditional American jazz, this was his first blues and rock album in over eight years. And it's a good one...  As a Canadian music fan interested in rock and roll, you should check this album (and Jeff's whole career) out. Here's a couple of great videos showing his legendary guitar skills, and his passion for the music.

A young Jeff destroys on "Shine a Light":

More after the jump...

Live in Montreux (Can't Get My Hands On You & Angel Eyes)
5:50min is hilarious...and man, what a voice when he launches into Angel Eyes:

Live in Montreux (Angel Eyes Solo & Roadhouse dueling guitars):

Comments

[Rising Superstar]

I wasn't really familiar with Jeff Healey before reading this post, but I loved the videos and will definitely look into some of his work. Thanks for the post.

[luv2golf]

I've always been amazed at how well Jeff Healey plays. He did a great job in the movie Road House.

[Kathy Kimball]

When my husband and I first got together we would play all kinds of music. Then he put Angel Eyes cd in. We both fell in love w/it. And now "Our" song is Angel Eyes. We are both divorced from our first marriage, we have been together for over 16 years and that is still our song. It is a good fit for the way we feel about each other so well. It still makes us both cry when we dance to "Our" song.