Post by Ms. Kathy on Jun 21, 2004 7:24:25 GMT -6
Photo and excerpt from the Jeff Healy Band web site at www.jeffhealeyband.com
Jeff Healy
Rendered blind from eye cancer [retinoblastoma] since the age of one, Healey picked up his first guitar at three, and - by playing the instrument flat on his lap - patented a revolutionary technique that went on to become a trademark of his performance. By the age of six, Healey was playing and singing in public. Once he reached his teens, the guitarist had already played in several bands, and experimented with numerous musical genres. At the age of fourteen, Healey had become the principal music specialist at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, routinely airing vintage selections from his now 25,000-strong collection of 78 rpm recordings for his weekly radio broadcast.
"I progressed through so many different styles of music through my teen years, both as a player and a vocalist, particularly the jazz and pop of the early 20th Century," Healey says. "I always knew, that in some way, I'd be connected to, and involved in, the music business."
Recognized as a 'musical prodigy' by his mid-teens, Healey soon came to the attention of one of blues music's' elder statesmen, Albert Collins. Healey went on to share a bill with Collins at Toronto's Albert's Hall. Healey later shared the same stage with no less an axeman than Stevie Ray Vaughan. And B.B. King at Vancouver Expo '86. His status as one of Canadian music's bright lights was rapidly becoming entrenched.
Healey comments, "Not only did I get to play with these great international musicians, but I also had the opportunity to jam with the local celebrities in Toronto, people like the Walsh Brothers, David Wilcox, Kim Mitchell and the like. It was a great learning experience."
During this period, Sunday night jam sessions at Grossman's Tavern in Toronto had a become a magnet for the 'who's who' of North American rock scene, Robbie Robertson, Downchild Blues Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Dylan, among them. It was here that Healey hooked up with drummer Tom Stephen and bassist Joe Rockman to form The Jeff Healey Band. Originally from New Brunswick, Stephen had come to Toronto to pursue a career in urban planning. That went south once he and Healey met up during one of those infamous jam sessions. Rockman is a Toronto native, a classically-trained pianist and guitar player who finally settled on the bass as his instrument of choice. By the time he met Jeff Healey, Rockman was practically a veteran, having played with various jazz, blues and rock bands in Toronto for over a decade.
In 1988, the band came to the attention of Arista Records in the U.S., and a flurry of activity followed. The band released its first album, See The Light, featuring original songs alongside some rock staples by John Hiatt, ZZ Top and Freddie King. it also spawned a top 10 single in "Confidence Man", and a Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 ranking for "Angel Eyes", leading JHB to appearances on Late Night with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The album went through the roof in Canada, selling well over 300,000 copies and went Platinum (1 million) in the U.S. Healey was also nominated for a Grammy Award alongside Santana, for Best Instrumental" for his performance on the track "Hideaway". Also, at the same time, a producer named Jimmy Iovine cast the band in a Patrick Swayze film, Road House, and flew the band to L.A. to cut the movie's soundtrack. Both the film and the soundtrack were released in 1989.
"The three years following the release of See The Light were a whirlwind," Healey says. "Almost non-stop touring, talk shows, press and radio interviews with a three-month break only to write and record a new album (the resulting Hell To Pay). I was meeting and touring with ZZ Top, Little Feat, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt and many others."
Success accelerated for JHB after 1989. Magazine covers (Guitar Player, Guitarist), multiple Juno, Grammy, and European-based awards show nominations and the great leap from playing clubs to stadiums, ensued. The following year, Healey released Hell To Pay, a star-studded project featuring Mark Knopfler, Paul Shaffer, Bobby Whitlock and George Harrison., all of whom appeared on the disc with six Healey band originals. The sophomore album went on to sell over 200,000 copies in Canada, went gold in the U.S., and sold two million units world-wide.
In a further nod to his past, JHB decide in 1995 to release Cover to Cover, a concept album of rock standards and blues classics, and garnered a Grammy Award nomination the following year. Also, in 1996, the band contributed a track, "Bulletproof" to the Steven Segal/Kennen Ivory Wayans picture The Glimmer Man.
Jeff Healy
Rendered blind from eye cancer [retinoblastoma] since the age of one, Healey picked up his first guitar at three, and - by playing the instrument flat on his lap - patented a revolutionary technique that went on to become a trademark of his performance. By the age of six, Healey was playing and singing in public. Once he reached his teens, the guitarist had already played in several bands, and experimented with numerous musical genres. At the age of fourteen, Healey had become the principal music specialist at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, routinely airing vintage selections from his now 25,000-strong collection of 78 rpm recordings for his weekly radio broadcast.
"I progressed through so many different styles of music through my teen years, both as a player and a vocalist, particularly the jazz and pop of the early 20th Century," Healey says. "I always knew, that in some way, I'd be connected to, and involved in, the music business."
Recognized as a 'musical prodigy' by his mid-teens, Healey soon came to the attention of one of blues music's' elder statesmen, Albert Collins. Healey went on to share a bill with Collins at Toronto's Albert's Hall. Healey later shared the same stage with no less an axeman than Stevie Ray Vaughan. And B.B. King at Vancouver Expo '86. His status as one of Canadian music's bright lights was rapidly becoming entrenched.
Healey comments, "Not only did I get to play with these great international musicians, but I also had the opportunity to jam with the local celebrities in Toronto, people like the Walsh Brothers, David Wilcox, Kim Mitchell and the like. It was a great learning experience."
During this period, Sunday night jam sessions at Grossman's Tavern in Toronto had a become a magnet for the 'who's who' of North American rock scene, Robbie Robertson, Downchild Blues Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Dylan, among them. It was here that Healey hooked up with drummer Tom Stephen and bassist Joe Rockman to form The Jeff Healey Band. Originally from New Brunswick, Stephen had come to Toronto to pursue a career in urban planning. That went south once he and Healey met up during one of those infamous jam sessions. Rockman is a Toronto native, a classically-trained pianist and guitar player who finally settled on the bass as his instrument of choice. By the time he met Jeff Healey, Rockman was practically a veteran, having played with various jazz, blues and rock bands in Toronto for over a decade.
In 1988, the band came to the attention of Arista Records in the U.S., and a flurry of activity followed. The band released its first album, See The Light, featuring original songs alongside some rock staples by John Hiatt, ZZ Top and Freddie King. it also spawned a top 10 single in "Confidence Man", and a Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 ranking for "Angel Eyes", leading JHB to appearances on Late Night with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The album went through the roof in Canada, selling well over 300,000 copies and went Platinum (1 million) in the U.S. Healey was also nominated for a Grammy Award alongside Santana, for Best Instrumental" for his performance on the track "Hideaway". Also, at the same time, a producer named Jimmy Iovine cast the band in a Patrick Swayze film, Road House, and flew the band to L.A. to cut the movie's soundtrack. Both the film and the soundtrack were released in 1989.
"The three years following the release of See The Light were a whirlwind," Healey says. "Almost non-stop touring, talk shows, press and radio interviews with a three-month break only to write and record a new album (the resulting Hell To Pay). I was meeting and touring with ZZ Top, Little Feat, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt and many others."
Success accelerated for JHB after 1989. Magazine covers (Guitar Player, Guitarist), multiple Juno, Grammy, and European-based awards show nominations and the great leap from playing clubs to stadiums, ensued. The following year, Healey released Hell To Pay, a star-studded project featuring Mark Knopfler, Paul Shaffer, Bobby Whitlock and George Harrison., all of whom appeared on the disc with six Healey band originals. The sophomore album went on to sell over 200,000 copies in Canada, went gold in the U.S., and sold two million units world-wide.
In a further nod to his past, JHB decide in 1995 to release Cover to Cover, a concept album of rock standards and blues classics, and garnered a Grammy Award nomination the following year. Also, in 1996, the band contributed a track, "Bulletproof" to the Steven Segal/Kennen Ivory Wayans picture The Glimmer Man.