Forget about being blind. He is top tier with SRV as far as musicality, creativity, and technique, let alone tone. Probably top 5 blues players in history.
Jeff had both of his eyes surgically removed as a young child due to a rare cancer. Those eyes are not real. He was not just legally blind but completely without vision. I believe he saw the world through his music. Love your channel Mr. Palmisano! Thank you so much.
Debate to your hearts delight, though Jeff’s vision was indeed unreal. Dare I say light years ahead of his time here on earth. Jeff Healey will always be a real one. My heart’s always yours. 💙 Rest In Peace. 💙
He wasn't just legally blind. He had cancer in his eyes as a child, and they were removed. He played guitar like that because after surgery, he was given a full-sized guitar, but his hands weren't big enough to get around the neck. He laid it on his lap, and never turned back. Total beast!!!!!
I hadn't known about this particular explanation, but more generally, isn't lap-style a minor but well known option for guitar? or is it really true that literally only Jeff Healey ever played that way? regardless, what then amazes me most is he could also play standing up with a shoulder strap! that's two completely different sets of hand-finger muscle memories.
Thanks Michael for featuring Jeff. What a great video. I was so lucky to see the Jeff Healey Band play live, in a small venue in Shediac, New Brumswick, Canada in the early 90's. I can tell you, I have no words to describe how amazing that experience was. He already had a few hit albums under his belt. They played lots of acoustic, and lots of electric. It was like a baptism. Eye opening, ear opening, soul opening. I didn't want it to end. I left there a different person. Understanding there were other levels to life. Jeff was on an entirely different level. And as great a guitar player as he was, his voice was just as amazing. Speaking, singing... The man was super human. A student of music, jazz, blues. He had his own radio show for awhile. Imagine that gorgeous voice talking to you for an hour or so. He was and always will be a canadian national treasure. R.I.P. Jeff. ❤❤❤
I had the distinct privilege to see Jeff Healey play while stationed in Germany 🇩🇪 in the 80s. We were a group of Americans in a small German beer haus with approximately 200 Germans. I say we were probably the only 8 Americans in the place because as we stood 10 feet from the stage we were the only ones going bezerk after every song! The rest of the audience simply gave a small round of applaus and a couple of whistles but that was it! Having just watched "Roadhouse" we were ecstatic to see Jeff Healey!! Actually after a couple songs Jeff announced the names of his band mates and as we were screaming and carrying on Jeff point down at us and said'"These people here must be Americans because they are carrying this whole venue so thank you for being here you guys!" I was stunned!! Being recognized by the Great, and I do mean GREAT, Jeff Healey!! It was an incredible evening one which I'll never forget! Taken from us far too soon, I do believe anyone who's witnessed this man master the electric guitar will never forget Jeff Healey!! R.I.P. Jeff!!!!
I had the pleasure of meeting him on the Subway in Toronto on two occasions. I was heading to the major music store after my classes finished for the day. I asked him if he would like some help negotiating the station (stupid me, he probably didn't). I asked him where he was heading to and it was to Long & McQuade where I was going to buy some Saxophone reeds. I helped him across the street to the store to the guitar section. He said thanks man, but I'm actually going upstairs to the Band Department. I asked what he needed up there and he told me some trumpet stuff and he was a big jazz fan. I heard him pick up a trumpet and he shred that horn like a monster. My jaw dropped to the floor. He was such as kind and gentle soul and a warming and unassuming presence to be in the company of. A truly remarkable human being. I miss him and so does the Toronto music community.
A wonderful memory @Ian Whatmough. Thanks for sharing. I also saw Jeff Healey in Toronto when he opened for Jeff Beck and Stevie Ray Vaughan at the Skydome in 1989. What a show!
Mentioned this before. He officially had one of the biggest jazz and blues record collections in the world and it he could play all sorts of the instruments masterfully. I missed several opportunities of seeing him jam in the smallest if bars in out Queen Street East beaches area here in Toronto every Thursday. My girlfriend lived across the street and saw him there several times. By the time she told me about the blind guy who came in and jammed with whoever was there. It was already to late. Never came back. She said he would mostly show up with wind instruments. U have to understand how small this place is. The stage was a spot on the floor and was just a 6x6 space right by the door. Musicians were surprised and honored to have him sit in. Man! I would have been there every Thursday to see him! 😂 I did go by every Thursday for quite some time, but he never came back. Damn!
I saw SRV in 1986 and Jeff Healey a month later, I love SRV but Healey had jaws on the floor, it was surreal, I’ve never seen anyone blow the roof off a club like that.
Jeff Healey has some of the sickest tone and sickest vibrato out there.. Really hard to replicate because of his technique. What an incredible player an incredible loss. Easily one of the most underrated blues players ever who's players ever.
The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long. As is too often the case, the best there ever was is taken from us far too soon. Man, how he burned so brightly while he was here. A Canadian treasure.
He just left me here to cry.... Seriously, I got misty... All disabilities aside, he had hands down the best blues voice ever.... Rest in peace Jeff Healey... Our love will follow you, as the years go passing by... 🙏
I'm 65 have seen most of the great live. Saw Jeff twice, front row. Totally blown away. Got to go backstage and meet him 2nd time. What an honor. Cried when he left us. RIP Jeff
Back in '98 or '99 I saw Jeff in a small club. I was standing about 15' away, jaw on the floor the entire time. It's like my brain didn't want to believe what I was seeing or hearing was real. Midway through the show he handed the reigns to his sideman who tore the house down. Years later I found out that that sideman was none other than Philip Sayce.
Great story. I have a similar experience but with two other great guitarists, who were in similar spots in their careers. Life rips! I love moments like that. Nothing can change my mood like live music. What a gift mankind has given itself. I wish more people experienced moments of this specific nature. Thanks for the share.
Jeff was the greatest bar room guitar player EVER!! He was perfect for roadhouse because he was a roadhouse showman. I met him a couple times. Dude was totally legit down to earth talking guitar and music. Saw him sit in with bluegrass band with an acoustic at his old bar and killed it on an acoustic and backed a jazz standard female singer another time. True musician.
Jeff is a Canadian legend. It's hard to believe he's been gone for 13 years now. I remember being a teenager in the 90's, trying my best to learn my way around the fretboard to play Jeff Healey and Colin James licks, the first time I saw Jeff play and realized he was blind it was an epiphany. His energy was raw and inspiring, and his sense of humour was something else. Great reaction, man! 🤘
He was great! He had a bar in Mississauga, and one day me and a co-worker went for some beers after a job. He was riding around the parking lot playing his trumpet on the back of a golf cart. We ended up talking to him for half an hour. Great guy!
I met Jeff after a gig at the Hammersmith Odeon, London in, er, 1990/91 or so? Just me, sat outside the stage door - bouncer looks out and goes 'Just you? Come on in then'. I got to have a beer with the band and have a chat to Jeff. Such a lovely, lovely (and tall!) guy. By the time we'd all chatted and I was heading to leave, I realised that I'd missed the last tube home from Hammersmith (west London) back into the centre. No problem, we'll give you a ride into town, you can catch a night bus from there. So I got a ride in their tour bus into the middle of London. Sadly missed. Saw him a bunch of times in his early appearances in the UK.
Jeff was a complete original. I met him not long after he started jamming with regularity in the Toronto bars like Grossman's, and the Horseshoe among others. We ended up becoming close friends and I managed his band in the early days. Watching him play was always mesmerising. It wasn't long before every notable guitar player in the world was aware of Jeff and many wanted to play with him to see that magic up close. There may never be another quite like him.
Saw him at Grossmans too! It was mind blowing to see such talent in a small venue. The other lasting impression I got was that Grossmans bathrooms were truly gross man!
btw, Do you happen to remember a place he played regularly called 'Rosco's' or something like that? Every Thursday for a time? Early 80's? Just curious. ThX
@@MonsterSound I am not aware of a place called Rosco's. He was often jamming at a place on Spadina called Grossman's in the early 80's. That where I met him and first saw him play.
Few guitarists put as much emotion into their playing as Jeff Healey does (or did I suppose). I get goosebumps from almost every song of his…just a stellar performer.
You might not know this if you haven’t listened to many different recordings of him doing the same song, but he was incredible at improvising, too. No song was ever played in exactly the same way twice. It always came straight from the heart. He also never used normal picks, but the bigger bass picks for his play. Thank you for this reaction, he was without doubt one of the greatest of all time.
I find it Difficult to Control my Emotions…Jeffs Incredible Talent and Emotionally Tasteful Playing…I can’t help my Heart from Fluttering and my Eyes from Crying….What a Tragic Loss…
I miss Jeff Healey and Stevie Ray so much. Not only could these guys play,their vocal ability blows me away.. Great video, now I gotta go watch it again ! 🎸
I am proud to call him a fellow canadian...great example of determination...this man was born to create music...let's not forget no one could teach him how to play like this...he had to find his way.
Jeff Healey always blew me away. I truly mourn all the amazing music we’re missing. It’s saddening. Funny you brought up Stevie too. These are the two peeps I miss the most. Jeff does a live version of Blue Jeans Blues that’s kills me every time I play it. Do you really think he made mistakes here? NOPE. You need to listen to more of his music. He doesn’t let you settle into one measure. He keeps you listening to hear every the variant. Cheers from Canader eh!
I heard mistakes. I'd never imagine myself to be even in the same ballpark as him, skillwise; he was absolutely astounding. But he definitely made some mistakes.
I absolutely LOVED your reaction to this. Genuine admiration for someone that was truly a one off. Bravo Sir. May I suggest Jeff Healey, See The Light live in London.
My parents dragged me along to a blues fest in MI as an infant, I was too young to remember it obviously but I found out years later that Jeff played there. My older brother introduced me to him in middle school and I was like “Dad you gotta check this guy out!” And he’s like oh yeah, you saw him in concert when you were like 1 haha.
Only Jeff Healey can make a groan man 'gurn' the way Michael does in this video. Well done Michael you really brightened my day with this one. Jeff was something else.
Truly a musical messiah. When I first heard his music, did not realize he was blind, then to find out he played the guitar on his laptop way he did , blew me away! One of a kind.
Jeff was a gift!!! Anyone lucky enough to see him play walked away a changed person. I was lucky enough to see him twice before he passed. His playing is absolutely insane and his voice incredible. RIP Jeff Healey heaven is a rocking place
I met Jeff healey I worked on the building he lived in in Toronto I sat in front of his door a bunch of times lol I knocked to see if I could come in and jam with him he was playing every day mostly jazz he answered talked to me for a half hour I walked with him to his cab he was leaving said I could come in another time I listened for the next week but he wasn’t home seen him play a bunch of times around the Toronto area he was right into jazz played the trumpet and other jazz instruments he played a bunch of times in Hamilton parks for free wat a gem the most underated blues player ever smokes Clapton great video of him and Stevie ray on UA-cam
Jeff Healey is one of my favorite players. Absolutely blows my mind how killer of a player he is, one of my favorite videos of him is him and Stevie playing and he gets so into the groove that he jumps up and starts playing standing up which for him with how he plays is even more impressive lol
The look on your face explains how I feel every time I hear live Jeff footage. The sheer joy on his face shows his love for the music, and his tone is legendary
I grew up in southern Ontario when Jeff was giging. My parents played his albums constantly. Fast forward some years, and I had the absolute gift of doing lights for Jeff at some festival. Had a quick chat with him before and after his show and he was the nicest human ever. He told me the show looked awesome, and that he had enjoyed himself. Wish we all had more time with him.
I had such great luck - was on a concert in Berlin/Germany. He played as the special guest beside B.B. King - Live at the Tempodrom. B.B. was telling stories and Jeff Healey smoked the house!
Jeff will always be the legend in my book! No one plays like him or sounds like him and his ability to create songs was brilliant! I've not heard one person EVER play "See The Light" note for note!
He was a monster for sure. May he rest in peace. If you loose one of your senses, it's amazing how much more keen the others become. We all should practice with our eyes shut. I teach my son to play chords without looking. You'd be amazed at much easier it becomes to execute...NOT to take away from Jeff's amazing talents.
I’ve got to watch Jeff twice….. both times I was crying. Never felt the same ….. He even played a jazz standard full blast 💥 He,like Ray Charles skipped bars and go back at the head like nothing . And he had this thing that I don’t care, ..He plays beyond himself
This is GREAT!!! Jeff never thought of blindness as a handicap. He said that being lazy is a handicap. He had a radio show on CBC and had an enormous vinyl collection that he was pleased to share. There is just so much to say about this talent. His guitar teacher wouldn't force Jeff to play in a conventional manner. Told his parents it works and encouraged him. SRV enjoyed playing with him as Jeff took the music to him rather than laying back. Look at Little Sister live with SRV is worth a view. You can't get the slurs because you're holding the guitar wrong:>)
I saw Jeff play several open mic nights in the early 80s. He would take the TTC to Yonge St, sometimes by himself. He remembered all the places that had open mics. Sometimes he was turned away but he kept going. The first time I saw him was at the "Upper Lip". Some friends were playing the open mic and Jeff played there as well. This was in like 1982. I saw him play 5-6 times in a few years. Once we were at a patio at the Eaton Centre and heard him playing at the old Colonial. From across the street!!! He went to school to take lessons (I believe it was Humber College) and either he quit or was asked to leave as they couldn't teach him to play the guitar while on his lap. Apologies if I don't remember how that came about. People need to know about his determination to succeed! Sure he had talent but his will should never be forgotten. RIP Jeff you are forever in my thoughts.
i had the great fortune to see him live in 1991 in a small venue with about 50 people in the bar..hanging out over top of him playing is something I will never forget...for me at the time he was known as a local hero in the players world even back then..not to mention his Jazz attributes, in that world, even my 85 year old father knows about him as a great all round player, he hosted a local Jazz station show weekly, and in his last show I remember his words saying "hopefully I will all see you next week" .. but he never did .. RIP
His speaking and singing voice are the same. I've loved this beautiful and hugely talented man for decades. This is a great example of that talent. One thing that has always amazed me was how he could suddenly jump up while playing a solo, thrash his head and body around then sit back down without help from anyone else. The vid of him and SRV is a great example.
I had the pleasure of seeing Jeff open for the Allman Brothers Band around 1992. He was simply amazing, got out of his chair and was jumping around playing the guitar. I didn’t hear him make one mistake that night. Glad I got to see him and SRV before they left this world.
Rest in peace, to one of the best guitarist, that I had the pleasure of growing, watching and hearing him, so underrated, to that level of talent, and with no sight definitely such a refined ear, inspiring. Thank you very much indeed.
Years ago, I saw Jeff open for Little Feat (I'd seen Little Feat before, so I was really there to catch Jeff's set), and, good Lord, his phrasing was incredibly tight and clever, and the vibrato he used with that overhand fretting style was so wicked it was mind-blowing. So much talent and heart shining out through the adversity he faced seemed superhuman. I miss Jeff.
Saw Jeff live twice in Manchester, five years apart. He was outstanding both times. Being able to use his thumb in the way that he could gave him a distinct advantage. The best Squier player ever !
I went to his bar a few times in TO for the matinee. No cover, just beer. Jeff would play mostly trumpet and the band would cover ragtime jazz from 70 to 100 years ago. Wow! He had a basement full of 78 vinyl, mostly old jazz. He did a radio show on the CBC on this subject which should be available on their website. Loved the man. Found out he went to my high school too. The cancer that took his sight as a child returned repeatedly. Must have have made him burn brighter than most. RIP Jeff.
Roadhouse is best bad movie of all time. Supposedly there is a reboot coming. Some things should be left alone. John Doe from the band X, and terry funk are also in it. Love that movie
Phenomenal. Always loved Jeff's playing, and he always seemed to be happy in the moment. "If there's a rock and roll heaven, well you know they got a helluva band." - The Righteous Brothers
I was lucky enough to see him live in Toronto at the Horseshoe Tavern ..twice….. sat about 15 feet from him….mindblowing experience ….he was an absolute animal… truly one-of-a-kind !!!
Forget about being blind. He is top tier with SRV as far as musicality, creativity, and technique, let alone tone. Probably top 5 blues players in history.
Every musician I know says Jeff Healy was the man.
Jeff had both of his eyes surgically removed as a young child due to a rare cancer. Those eyes are not real. He was not just legally blind but completely without vision. I believe he saw the world through his music. Love your channel Mr. Palmisano! Thank you so much.
@@pedrorobertomoraes2904 "His eyes had to be surgically removed, and he was given ocular prostheses", says his Wikipedia page.
Debate to your hearts delight, though Jeff’s vision was indeed unreal. Dare I say light years ahead of his time here on earth. Jeff Healey will always be a real one. My heart’s always yours. 💙 Rest In Peace. 💙
Very sad story what proves there is no God.
@@kipponi This is a channel about enjoying music and talent....Hey buddy, move on
@@pedrorobertomoraes2904 did you just make that up in your head? Check his wiki lol
He wasn't just legally blind. He had cancer in his eyes as a child, and they were removed. He played guitar like that because after surgery, he was given a full-sized guitar, but his hands weren't big enough to get around the neck. He laid it on his lap, and never turned back. Total beast!!!!!
Totally accurate brother imo the best guitarist when the night comes falling my all time favourite song 🙏🏻👏👏👏
I hadn't known about this particular explanation, but more generally, isn't lap-style a minor but well known option for guitar? or is it really true that literally only Jeff Healey ever played that way? regardless, what then amazes me most is he could also play standing up with a shoulder strap! that's two completely different sets of hand-finger muscle memories.
@@jb1934 I only know of one other guitarist who plays that way, another blind Canadian.
damn the protheses look like real eyes then it's nuts
Thanks Michael for featuring Jeff. What a great video.
I was so lucky to see the Jeff Healey Band play live, in a small venue in Shediac, New Brumswick, Canada in the early 90's.
I can tell you, I have no words to describe how amazing that experience was. He already had a few hit albums under his belt. They played lots of acoustic, and lots of electric. It was like a baptism. Eye opening, ear opening, soul opening. I didn't want it to end. I left there a different person. Understanding there were other levels to life. Jeff was on an entirely different level. And as great a guitar player as he was, his voice was just as amazing. Speaking, singing...
The man was super human. A student of music, jazz, blues. He had his own radio show for awhile. Imagine that gorgeous voice talking to you for an hour or so.
He was and always will be a canadian national treasure. R.I.P. Jeff. ❤❤❤
He’s so amazing but his voice needs way more respect. It’s amazing.
True you can even tell when he was talking..
Totally agree he has one of the best voices ever.
I had the distinct privilege to see Jeff Healey play while stationed in Germany 🇩🇪 in the 80s. We were a group of Americans in a small German beer haus with approximately 200 Germans. I say we were probably the only 8 Americans in the place because as we stood 10 feet from the stage we were the only ones going bezerk after every song! The rest of the audience simply gave a small round of applaus and a couple of whistles but that was it! Having just watched "Roadhouse" we were ecstatic to see Jeff Healey!! Actually after a couple songs Jeff announced the names of his band mates and as we were screaming and carrying on Jeff point down at us and said'"These people here must be Americans because they are carrying this whole venue so thank you for being here you guys!" I was stunned!! Being recognized by the Great, and I do mean GREAT, Jeff Healey!! It was an incredible evening one which I'll never forget!
Taken from us far too soon, I do believe anyone who's witnessed this man master the electric guitar will never forget Jeff Healey!!
R.I.P. Jeff!!!!
I had the pleasure of meeting him on the Subway in Toronto on two occasions. I was heading to the major music store after my classes finished for the day. I asked him if he would like some help negotiating the station (stupid me, he probably didn't). I asked him where he was heading to and it was to Long & McQuade where I was going to buy some Saxophone reeds. I helped him across the street to the store to the guitar section. He said thanks man, but I'm actually going upstairs to the Band Department. I asked what he needed up there and he told me some trumpet stuff and he was a big jazz fan. I heard him pick up a trumpet and he shred that horn like a monster. My jaw dropped to the floor. He was such as kind and gentle soul and a warming and unassuming presence to be in the company of. A truly remarkable human being. I miss him and so does the Toronto music community.
A wonderful memory @Ian Whatmough. Thanks for sharing. I also saw Jeff Healey in Toronto when he opened for Jeff Beck and Stevie Ray Vaughan at the Skydome in 1989. What a show!
Mentioned this before. He officially had one of the biggest jazz and blues record collections in the world and it he could play all sorts of the instruments masterfully. I missed several opportunities of seeing him jam in the smallest if bars in out Queen Street East beaches area here in Toronto every Thursday. My girlfriend lived across the street and saw him there several times. By the time she told me about the blind guy who came in and jammed with whoever was there. It was already to late. Never came back. She said he would mostly show up with wind instruments. U have to understand how small this place is. The stage was a spot on the floor and was just a 6x6 space right by the door. Musicians were surprised and honored to have him sit in. Man! I would have been there every Thursday to see him! 😂 I did go by every Thursday for quite some time, but he never came back. Damn!
There actually used to be a video on this site showing Jeff playing trumpet as part of a large ensemble........
@@giserd4889 😱
@@ottokriete1153 Like a boss!
I saw SRV in 1986 and Jeff Healey a month later, I love SRV but Healey had jaws on the floor, it was surreal, I’ve never seen anyone blow the roof off a club like that.
Saw him in 1991 in Christchurch Town Hall, New Zealand.. yup same outcome.. everyone is speechless after.. WTF.. Jesus
He was incredible and deserves to be in the hall of fame! Most underrated 🎸of all time! His voice was just a gift also!
There was only one Jeff Healy God bless you Jeff wherever you are. You died to young. Rest in peace we will never forget you
Jeff Healey has some of the sickest tone and sickest vibrato out there.. Really hard to replicate because of his technique. What an incredible player an incredible loss. Easily one of the most underrated blues players ever who's players ever.
The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long. As is too often the case, the best there ever was is taken from us far too soon. Man, how he burned so brightly while he was here. A Canadian treasure.
His cover of While My Guitar Gently Weeps just RIPS. Amazing talent
Yup. Seen him do that a couple times in bars. Also love Reelin in the years
George Harrison said it was his favorite version.
Jeff Healey is legendary ❤🤍 Man do I miss him so much ❤🤍
He just left me here to cry.... Seriously, I got misty...
All disabilities aside, he had hands down the best blues voice ever....
Rest in peace Jeff Healey... Our love will follow you, as the years go passing by... 🙏
I'm 65 have seen most of the great live. Saw Jeff twice, front row. Totally blown away. Got to go backstage and meet him 2nd time. What an honor. Cried when he left us. RIP Jeff
You are so lucky man! I love and miss that Man!
Back in '98 or '99 I saw Jeff in a small club. I was standing about 15' away, jaw on the floor the entire time. It's like my brain didn't want to believe what I was seeing or hearing was real. Midway through the show he handed the reigns to his sideman who tore the house down. Years later I found out that that sideman was none other than Philip Sayce.
Wow!! Lucky you
Wow
Great story. I have a similar experience but with two other great guitarists, who were in similar spots in their careers. Life rips! I love moments like that.
Nothing can change my mood like live music. What a gift mankind has given itself. I wish more people experienced moments of this specific nature. Thanks for the share.
Jeff was the greatest bar room guitar player EVER!! He was perfect for roadhouse because he was a roadhouse showman. I met him a couple times. Dude was totally legit down to earth talking guitar and music. Saw him sit in with bluegrass band with an acoustic at his old bar and killed it on an acoustic and backed a jazz standard female singer another time. True musician.
Jeff is a Canadian legend. It's hard to believe he's been gone for 13 years now. I remember being a teenager in the 90's, trying my best to learn my way around the fretboard to play Jeff Healey and Colin James licks, the first time I saw Jeff play and realized he was blind it was an epiphany. His energy was raw and inspiring, and his sense of humour was something else. Great reaction, man! 🤘
He was great! He had a bar in Mississauga, and one day me and a co-worker went for some beers after a job. He was riding around the parking lot playing his trumpet on the back of a golf cart. We ended up talking to him for half an hour. Great guy!
I met Jeff after a gig at the Hammersmith Odeon, London in, er, 1990/91 or so? Just me, sat outside the stage door - bouncer looks out and goes 'Just you? Come on in then'. I got to have a beer with the band and have a chat to Jeff. Such a lovely, lovely (and tall!) guy. By the time we'd all chatted and I was heading to leave, I realised that I'd missed the last tube home from Hammersmith (west London) back into the centre. No problem, we'll give you a ride into town, you can catch a night bus from there. So I got a ride in their tour bus into the middle of London.
Sadly missed. Saw him a bunch of times in his early appearances in the UK.
Jeff Healey "See the Light" is so f'ing good. But glad we got into "As the Years Go Passing By". What an artist.
See the light is fucking crazy
An incredible rendition of this song. He absolutely sizzles with his playing. Crazy talented blues player taken from us all too soon.
To all the able bodied people who say they cant do something. There is Jeff Healey. RIP. You are missed.
That tone was scorched earth. It's hot fire.
Jeff was a complete original. I met him not long after he started jamming with regularity in the Toronto bars like Grossman's, and the Horseshoe among others. We ended up becoming close friends and I managed his band in the early days. Watching him play was always mesmerising. It wasn't long before every notable guitar player in the world was aware of Jeff and many wanted to play with him to see that magic up close. There may never be another quite like him.
Saw him at Grossmans too! It was mind blowing to see such talent in a small venue. The other lasting impression I got was that Grossmans bathrooms were truly gross man!
btw, Do you happen to remember a place he played regularly called 'Rosco's' or something like that? Every Thursday for a time? Early 80's? Just curious. ThX
@@MonsterSound I am not aware of a place called Rosco's. He was often jamming at a place on Spadina called Grossman's in the early 80's. That where I met him and first saw him play.
@@coreymihailiuk5189 I remember "Rosco's" as a small dive (smaller than Grossman's) near Dufferin on Bloor W. Fun times.
On top of his phenomenal technique he has a great blues voice! The man is unbelievable.
Few guitarists put as much emotion into their playing as Jeff Healey does (or did I suppose). I get goosebumps from almost every song of his…just a stellar performer.
You might not know this if you haven’t listened to many different recordings of him doing the same song, but he was incredible at improvising, too. No song was ever played in exactly the same way twice. It always came straight from the heart. He also never used normal picks, but the bigger bass picks for his play. Thank you for this reaction, he was without doubt one of the greatest of all time.
I find it Difficult to Control my Emotions…Jeffs Incredible Talent and Emotionally Tasteful Playing…I can’t help my Heart from Fluttering and my Eyes from Crying….What a Tragic Loss…
I miss Jeff Healey and Stevie Ray so much. Not only could these guys play,their vocal ability blows me away.. Great video, now I gotta go watch it again ! 🎸
Jeffs my favourite he was so awesome.
Simply .....The "GREATEST!
I am proud to call him a fellow canadian...great example of determination...this man was born to create music...let's not forget no one could teach him how to play like this...he had to find his way.
I just discovered this guy today, and JUST NOW discovered he's truly blind! Wow what a player!
You gotta react to Jeff and Stevie Ray doing " look at little sister" together.
You'll love it!
Living in Toronto, I have to say I loved seeing Jeff live at his own club here. Was an incredible trumpet player too. One of the greats.
Was that the Healey Bar? I visited Toronto and saw him there with the Jeff Kane Band ( from memory).
Was a spiritual experience
Jeff Healey always blew me away. I truly mourn all the amazing music we’re missing. It’s saddening. Funny you brought up Stevie too. These are the two peeps I miss the most. Jeff does a live version of Blue Jeans Blues that’s kills me every time I play it. Do you really think he made mistakes here? NOPE. You need to listen to more of his music. He doesn’t let you settle into one measure. He keeps you listening to hear every the variant. Cheers from Canader eh!
I heard mistakes. I'd never imagine myself to be even in the same ballpark as him, skillwise; he was absolutely astounding. But he definitely made some mistakes.
I absolutely LOVED your reaction to this. Genuine admiration for someone that was truly a one off. Bravo Sir.
May I suggest Jeff Healey, See The Light live in London.
My parents dragged me along to a blues fest in MI as an infant, I was too young to remember it obviously but I found out years later that Jeff played there. My older brother introduced me to him in middle school and I was like “Dad you gotta check this guy out!” And he’s like oh yeah, you saw him in concert when you were like 1 haha.
Cool story 👍
Only Jeff Healey can make a groan man 'gurn' the way Michael does in this video. Well done Michael you really brightened my day with this one. Jeff was something else.
Truly a musical messiah. When I first heard his music, did not realize he was blind, then to find out he played the guitar on his laptop way he did , blew me away! One of a kind.
That man shoots Blues lasers from his guitar! First time seeing that video and it is powerful. What a legacy he left us to marvel at and enjoy.
Dude, Jeff is the reason I started playing guitar. Roadhouse is the best movie because of him.
Jeff was a gift!!! Anyone lucky enough to see him play walked away a changed person. I was lucky enough to see him twice before he passed. His playing is absolutely insane and his voice incredible. RIP Jeff Healey heaven is a rocking place
Long time fan of Jeff…inspiring….crying
I met Jeff healey I worked on the building he lived in in Toronto I sat in front of his door a bunch of times lol I knocked to see if I could come in and jam with him he was playing every day mostly jazz he answered talked to me for a half hour I walked with him to his cab he was leaving said I could come in another time I listened for the next week but he wasn’t home seen him play a bunch of times around the Toronto area he was right into jazz played the trumpet and other jazz instruments he played a bunch of times in Hamilton parks for free wat a gem the most underated blues player ever smokes Clapton great video of him and Stevie ray on UA-cam
Jeff Healey is one of my favorite players. Absolutely blows my mind how killer of a player he is, one of my favorite videos of him is him and Stevie playing and he gets so into the groove that he jumps up and starts playing standing up which for him with how he plays is even more impressive lol
I've seen that one and yeah ., the man was/is a legit badass
The look on your face explains how I feel every time I hear live Jeff footage. The sheer joy on his face shows his love for the music, and his tone is legendary
Thank you for appreciating the most underrated guitarist RIP Jeff
I saw him perform at the Belly Up Tavern in SoCal in the early nineties and I will never forget that performance- truly blistering and raw!
Jeff Healey is amazing! thanks for this reaction :)
I grew up in southern Ontario when Jeff was giging. My parents played his albums constantly. Fast forward some years, and I had the absolute gift of doing lights for Jeff at some festival. Had a quick chat with him before and after his show and he was the nicest human ever. He told me the show looked awesome, and that he had enjoyed himself. Wish we all had more time with him.
Thanks for making this. I had forgotten about him. He should not be forgotten.
Absolutely love Jeff Healey. My dad showed him to me when I was young and I’ve never stopped listening since. Amazing guitarist!
One of my all time favourite guitarist's and vocalists. Love his music!
RIP Jeff 🙏
I had such great luck - was on a concert in Berlin/Germany. He played as the special guest beside B.B. King - Live at the Tempodrom. B.B. was telling stories and Jeff Healey smoked the house!
Loved Jeffs music for 30 years, finally got to see him live at his Toronto Bar with about 40 other people.... was a spiritual experience ,
RIP King
Only one thing to say is amazing beyond real I’m in awe regards
I have never seen this video before, but it's incredible how many people sleep on Jeff Healey in general guitar terms. Excellent video.
Such a magnificent player, unique, one of a kind - never to be repeated. Long live Jeff Healey.
I walked into a Jazz bar on a drunken Friday night in Toronto back in the day and there was Jeff playing the trumpet!!! and killing it
"Yeah, and I thought you'd be bigger."
Jeff will always be the legend in my book! No one plays like him or sounds like him and his ability to create songs was brilliant! I've not heard one person EVER play "See The Light" note for note!
He was a monster for sure. May he rest in peace.
If you loose one of your senses, it's amazing how much more keen the others become. We all should practice with our eyes shut. I teach my son to play chords without looking. You'd be amazed at much easier it becomes to execute...NOT to take away from Jeff's amazing talents.
I’ve got to watch Jeff twice….. both times I was crying. Never felt the same ….. He even played a jazz standard full blast 💥
He,like Ray Charles skipped bars and go back at the head like nothing . And he had this thing that I don’t care, ..He plays beyond himself
This is GREAT!!! Jeff never thought of blindness as a handicap. He said that being lazy is a handicap. He had a radio show on CBC and had an enormous vinyl collection that he was pleased to share. There is just so much to say about this talent. His guitar teacher wouldn't force Jeff to play in a conventional manner. Told his parents it works and encouraged him. SRV enjoyed playing with him as Jeff took the music to him rather than laying back. Look at Little Sister live with SRV is worth a view. You can't get the slurs because you're holding the guitar wrong:>)
One of the best blues voices too..
Великий музыкант! Царствие небесное! 🙏 Очень много души в его музыке
Just phenomenal gives me the shivers
Jeff Healey was the blues and jazz blended, pure feeling, he may be equalled one day but his feel wil never be bettered.
Jeff was a legend!
One of the best to ever live. Period.
I love how excited you are about his music, really got me into it
I saw him live twice… it was unforgettable.
I saw Jeff play several open mic nights in the early 80s. He would take the TTC to Yonge St, sometimes by himself. He remembered all the places that had open mics. Sometimes he was turned away but he kept going. The first time I saw him was at the "Upper Lip". Some friends were playing the open mic and Jeff played there as well. This was in like 1982. I saw him play 5-6 times in a few years. Once we were at a patio at the Eaton Centre and heard him playing at the old Colonial. From across the street!!!
He went to school to take lessons (I believe it was Humber College) and either he quit or was asked to leave as they couldn't teach him to play the guitar while on his lap. Apologies if I don't remember how that came about. People need to know about his determination to succeed! Sure he had talent but his will should never be forgotten. RIP Jeff you are forever in my thoughts.
i had the great fortune to see him live in 1991 in a small venue with about 50 people in the bar..hanging out over top of him playing is something I will never forget...for me at the time he was known as a local hero in the players world even back then..not to mention his Jazz attributes, in that world, even my 85 year old father knows about him as a great all round player, he hosted a local Jazz station show weekly, and in his last show I remember his words saying "hopefully I will all see you next week" .. but he never did .. RIP
Jeff was an amazingly talented guy, just a virtuoso on guitar. Saw him play a couple of times in the 90s and he just blew me away. RIP Jeff
Jeff is by far one of the best blues player I ever heard great
His speaking and singing voice are the same. I've loved this beautiful and hugely talented man for decades. This is a great example of that talent. One thing that has always amazed me was how he could suddenly jump up while playing a solo, thrash his head and body around then sit back down without help from anyone else. The vid of him and SRV is a great example.
I had the pleasure of seeing Jeff open for the Allman Brothers Band around 1992. He was simply amazing, got out of his chair and was jumping around playing the guitar. I didn’t hear him make one mistake that night. Glad I got to see him and SRV before they left this world.
Rest in peace, to one of the best guitarist, that I had the pleasure of growing, watching and hearing him, so underrated, to that level of talent, and with no sight definitely such a refined ear, inspiring. Thank you very much indeed.
Well said! You get it!!!
Years ago, I saw Jeff open for Little Feat (I'd seen Little Feat before, so I was really there to catch Jeff's set), and, good Lord, his phrasing was incredibly tight and clever, and the vibrato he used with that overhand fretting style was so wicked it was mind-blowing. So much talent and heart shining out through the adversity he faced seemed superhuman. I miss Jeff.
Saw Jeff live twice in Manchester, five years apart. He was outstanding both times. Being able to use his thumb in the way that he could gave him a distinct advantage. The best Squier player ever !
I was lucky enough to see him twice over here in the UK. Absolutely amazing.
He was only 41 when he died of cancer. What an amazing human being.
Saw unknown Jeff in a small club in Toronto in 1986, best guitarist I ever saw, mind blowing. Excellent video analysis too, excellent advice, thanks.
I thank my brother all the time for taking me to see JHB... His passing is a big loss to the world.
Such a great vocalist as well imo .
Yeah he had a great voice also.
He had more mojo than most blues guitarist can comprehend. His phrasing is unbelievable
I saw him at a New Years Eve party in 1988 in Canada. He played like no one else in the world.
I went to his bar a few times in TO for the matinee. No cover, just beer. Jeff would play mostly trumpet and the band would cover ragtime jazz from 70 to 100 years ago. Wow! He had a basement full of 78 vinyl, mostly old jazz. He did a radio show on the CBC on this subject which should be available on their website. Loved the man. Found out he went to my high school too. The cancer that took his sight as a child returned repeatedly. Must have have made him burn brighter than most. RIP Jeff.
Did you just ‘never heard his speaking voice’ confess to never seeing Road House? Whiskey Tango!?
Lmao 🤣
Roadhouse is best bad movie of all time. Supposedly there is a reboot coming. Some things should be left alone. John Doe from the band X, and terry funk are also in it. Love that movie
Phenomenal. Always loved Jeff's playing, and he always seemed to be happy in the moment. "If there's a rock and roll heaven, well you know they got a helluva band." - The Righteous Brothers
Saw Jeff Healy in a nice club show, amazing. Those step and a half bends,,
I love self taught musicians, it gives their playing a unique quality.
I saw him in the late 80s. Loud as Hell. But great. He got the bikers dancing :-)
Wow i would of loved to be there to see that ive loved jeff since 1988 when the see the light album come out i would of loved to had see him live.
I was lucky enough to see him live in Toronto at the Horseshoe Tavern ..twice….. sat about 15 feet from him….mindblowing experience ….he was an absolute animal… truly one-of-a-kind !!!
I had the great opportunity to see Jeff live twice before he passed.