Angel Eyes – A moving song by the one and only #JeffHealey. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #JohnHiatt #Paulini

In my continuing quest to find interesting stories and combine them with outstanding songs or cover versions, I learned about this fact. It was on this day in 1966 that Jeff Healey; who was adopted as an infant, had surgery to remove his right eye. His left eye was removed four months later. Both eyes were replaced with ocular prostheses. Healey who was diagnosed with retinoblastoma as an infant, was seven months old at the time of his first surgery. While this process gives rise to an element of sadness, it is what he and his family did with the hand he was dealt that tells the real story.

When Jeff Healey was four years old, his father gave him his first guitar. He learned to play it on his lap. By the time he was nine he had begun to develop a level of notoriety. He was featured on the TVO program Cucumber. At the age of thirteen he formed a band called Blue Direction. This four piece ensemble made a name for themselves, playing any gig they could find as an underage act in the busy Toronto music scene. Jeff Healey was literally a student of music and through the years he immersed himself. The love of jazz and blues was cultivated by his father, who was a Toronto firefighter. He even hosted his own radio show on a local radio station called CIUT-FM. His massive collection of vintage 78 rpm, gramophone records was the envy of music enthusiasts everywhere. While fulfilling his love of music on the listening end, Jeff Healey was also diligently perfecting his craft as a guitarist. He formed the Jeff Healey Band with Joe Rockman on bass and Tom Stephen on drums. Their first public appearance was at the Bird’s Nest on Queen Street West in Toronto. A writeup in Toronto’s NOW magazine helped to create a wider following. His reputation began to take on mythical heights. He was that good. Before too long he was playing larger Toronto clubs’ like Grossman’s and Albert’s Hall. It was while playing at Albert’s Hall that Jeff Healey was discovered by none other than Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert Collins.

In 1988, Jeff Healey was signed to Arista Records and he released his debut album, See the Light which featured today’s feature song, ‘Angel Eyes’.

‘Angel Eyes’ was written by the acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician John Hiatt along with Fred Koller. The recording by the Jeff Healey Band helped Healey’s rise to prominence on a global level. He was nominated for a Grammy and he won a Juno Award for Canadian Entertainer of the Year. I featured the touching version recorded by Jeff Healey at the outset. Here is John Hiatt’s version that was recorded live on his Hiatt Comes Alive at Budokan? album in 1994.

The legend of Jeff Healey was literally felt worldwide. In 2004, Australian Idol contestant Paulini recorded ‘Angel Eyes’ as her first single release. In her own press release Paulini noted she was captured by the song, and when her producer came up with a suitable arrangement she leapt at the chance. It went to #1 on the Australian Charts the year of its release.

Getting back to Jeff Healey, he is a tragic story of a life that ended too soon. In 2005 he was diagnosed with cancer in his legs and in early 2007 he underwent surgery to remove cancerous tissue from both his lungs. On March 2, 2008 Jeff Healey died of sarcoma in his Toronto home. He was only 41.

His guitar gently weeps, and we are fortunate that he touched us with his profound ability and genuine love for his art form.

How highly regarded was Jeff Healey? This version of ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ featured George Harrison and Jeff Lynne on guitar and backing vocals.

Have a great Friday!