Jeff Healey was one of Canada's hidden treasures. Jeff lost his eyesight to cancer when he was just one year old. His Dad bought him a quitar when Jeff was three years old, and Jeff went ahead and taught himself to play the guitar in his own way (on his lap). He formed his own band when he was 15 and saw success on the local club circuit, where the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan spotted him and helped Jeff gain international attention. Early on, Jeff was drawn to blues music, and wrote many of his own songs. He latter drifted into jazz, toured around the world, produced a ton of albums, and even appeared in the movie "Roadhouse." You should check out the video "Look at Little Sister" which showcases a young Jeff going toe-to-toe with Stevie Ray Vaughan! Healey died in 2008 at the age of 41 due to cancer. Also worth a look are Angel Eyes and his cover of "While My guitar gently Weeps." For Healey fans, there is a documentary coming out next year called "See the Light: The Jeff Healey Story."

He was awesome, I remember him from Road House the Movie, good jam yeah 🎸🔥🥁🎤🤘😆🤘

Dr. John on the keys. A great New Orleans musician to check out

RIP Jeff ❤❤❤❤

Great reaction... Don't be afraid to hurt peoples feeling..

Four, world class players on that stage! While Jeff's performance is always amazing, the bass guitar, drums and piano were amazing too.

What you saw David Gilmore of Pink Floyd play was a Lap Steel guitar which he utilizes a steel bar in the left hand to slide over the strings to create a unique sound. Some others do it with a glass slide. Many guitarist can do this in addition to traditional playing.. What Jeff Healy is doing is completely different. He is depressing his fingers up and down the fret board like a traditional player but doing it from lap position.. Being blind he felt more comfortable w the guitar on his lap. Self taught from an early age. Total Genius

He used his teeth, DR John on piano, check out his Right Place Wrong Time, great reaction

I have related this elsewhere on KZfaq, however I can't help but repeat it, truth it being and damn lucky as I was ... Mid/late '80s, Victoria BC, early evening on a warm summer Thursday: Me and some of the boys headed out to a local meat market / pick up bar that usually had a DJ. (🤭 Hey, I was young, well, late 20s, and there would likely be pretty girls there! 😂). When we arrived, we were perplexed to discover there was a lineup to get in, with posters advertising a live performer (not usual) debuting that night, with praises by the likes of B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. So, what the hell, we waited in line. Once we got in we sat at a table right by the dance floor, about 15 feet from a two foot raised stage. After ordering our beer, the band came out, obviously guiding a blind guy. My buddies and I kinda looked at each other quizzically. 🤔 They sat him down in a chair onstage, handed him an electric guitar, which he placed on his lap 😯 ... then, when they started to play ... my world changed ... forever. It was Jeff Healey and his band, before their first album came out: I had never heard of him/them before, but he, specifically, had my attention now. He proceeded to play the cleanest, most amazing, unbelievable guitar licks I'd ever heard. He played blues, he played rock, he played country, he even played a bit of what sounded like flamenco. He played Hendrix better than Hendrix, he played with his teeth, he played while literally jumping around blind like a mad man. He seemed to be having a religious experience onstage. Despite it being a dance club, NOBODY danced that night. Every person, patrons and staff alike, stood around, hypnotized, with their mouths agape, staring, hardly believing what they were seeing and hearing. I went back Friday and Saturday, and again three nights the following week, as they were playing a two week gig there. Their first album came out shortly thereafter, and then he was in a movie with Patrick Swayze, and then ... well, I sadly never got to see Jeff Healey perform live again. But I still feel blessed, and I shall never forget how amazing the experience was that first night I saw him play! 😊

I saw Jeff in a bar in Toronto in 84 before he blew up and he played 2 sets and I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. Then I heard him on the radio shortly after and I was like yup I knew it ❤😂 He passed away years later from lung cancer and it was always in the back of my mind if second hand smoke from all the nights playing in smokey bars was the cause. Beautiful man and beautiful memories I'll always treasure. Peace out ✌️ ☮️

Playing with his teeth in the one part and he was blind from the age of two because of eye cancer. I believe that’s why he plays a guitar like he does and unfortunately he passed away. I believe in 2008 at 41 years old.

Jeff Healey is a Canadian icon. He lost his eyesight to cancer ocular cancer when he was one. He got a guitar when he was three and found it easier to play in his lap. Unfortunately cancer claimed him when he was 41.

I first saw Jeff in the movie Road House and have been a fan ever since.

check out Jeff and Stevie Ray Vaughn "Look at Little Sister"

YAY!! Jeff is amazing. Peace and Love from Canada ❤

Now you're prepared to see Jeff jam with Stevie Ray Vaughan on "Look at Little Sister" . Find the video for that performance out in youtube land ... you can thank me later 🙂. One thing about Jeff's self taught style . One of it's big advantages of playing with the guitar on his lap is how much it allows him to use his thumb . It Actually allows him to play with all 5 fingers !

Wow! Dr. John on Piano! Jeff was the real deal and was only getting better and more respected every day before his life was cut short. The true depth of his greatness will never be known. Sing the hell out of a song too!

Though I’m not sure how you came to this video but it’s a very good one for certain. On the piano you have Dr. John.

Finally! Someone who understands why us 80's kids and older who thinks newer music is garbage. Raw talent like this and like SRV doesn't exist anymore.

R.I.P. Jeff Healy

We call that a Tennessee Flat Top Box.

yeah, i guess he had to shorten his shredding excess for TV. :-) but it looks to me as if he really liked Marcus Miller's playing here.

david sanborn rip

Jeff Healey went totally blind when a baby from Cancer, with no hope of ever regaining his vision. His father gave him a guitar at age 3, and Jeff taught himself how to play.

hes blind