Jim9guitars -> RE: Jeff Healey Died (Mar. 5 2008 11:27:27)
|
Jeff had been battling cancer for most of his life, it cost him his eyesight at age one. His unique style of playing solidbody electric face up on his lap while seated was amazing. While a lot of blues guitarists play like that when using a slide, he didn't, he learned to play everything "overhanded", chords, killer leads and all. I had occasion to speak to him on the phone once about 5 years ago, his wife was singing a few songs at a friends wedding and I was hired to back her up. I couldn't believe it, I kept thinking 'why did they hire me when her husband is Jeff Healey?'. Anyway, his wife had me talk to him about the music I was to play and he grabbed a guitar and played some ideas over the phone for me and told me what fingerings to use for the chords, he was very cool. I was very saddened to hear of his passing, I know they had at least one child. He was also a noted trumpet player and had a band that played jazz from the 30's and 40's, and he hosted a jazz radio show on CBC here in Canada for a few years featuring mainly music from his own extensive collection of 78 rpm records. He will be missed. Jim
|
|
|
|