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Blind Musician Jeff Healey Dies Of Retinal Cancer

The famed guitarist was just 41 years old...

Blind Musician Jeff Healey Dies Of Retinal Cancer
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Blind blues-rock musician Jeff Healey has died from a rare form of cancer at the age of 41.

The Canadian died yesterday (March 2) of retinoblastoma, a cancer of the retina, and the same illness that caused him to loose his sight when he was just one years old.

His publicist Richard Flohil paid tribute to the singer saying: "Jeff was an intriguing player to watch, because he played guitar - by any conventional standard - all wrong, with it flat across his lap. But he was a remarkable, a virtuoso player.”

Because of his blindness Healey played his guitar in an unconventional manner by resting the guitar on his lap. He had won many plaudits and has played with the likes of George Harrison, BB King and Mark Knopfler.

Healey was due to release his new album in Canada tomorrow and had a US and European tour in the pipeline. An appearance on Jools Holland was also planned while on the UK stint of his tour.

As well as the retinoblastoma which took his life, Healey had also undergone surgery for cancer in his legs and lungs.
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  • I bet he never saw that coming!

    ~ by boydy 3/3/2008

    Reply to this comment

    • boydy- brilliant deuche bag.

      ~ by paul 3/3/2008

  • cue tupac-style posthumous career...

    ~ by billystrauss 3/3/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • Don’t be so offensive, he was a great musician - what did you do by comparison?

    ~ by BeNice 3/3/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • I saw the sun rise. Did he?

    ~ by boydy 3/3/2008

    Reply to this comment

    • Jeff Healy changed millions of lives for the better with his positive attitude and his music, without ever seeing the faces of those whom he influenced. Apparently some among us (you, boydy), don’t care about the finer points of life, probably because you have no point of reference. So go ahead with your cute remarks so the world can see you for the jerk you are

      ~ by jonesy 3/3/2008

  • What an idiotic and insensitive comment. I’ll bet Jeff Healey accomplished more in his his short life than you ever will. Get a life!

    ~ by DD 3/3/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • Enjoy the Karma you will get for making such an insensitive statement boydy

    ~ by rememberJeff 3/4/2008

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  • i saw jeff last year he was brilliant hell be sadly mised

    ~ by williampaulbolton 3/12/2008

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  • i am gutted i had the pleasure of seeing him play several times and he was amazing. seemed like a lovely person and an amazing guitarist. he will be sorely missed.

    ~ by fiona, aberdeen 3/16/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • He may not have "seen" the sun rise, but I bet he felt it more completely than you. He probably also made the sunrise MEAN something to other people..........and you?....you are just sad.

    ~ by D Lowell 10/10/2009

    Reply to this comment


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