Early 80's . I walked into a bar on King West T-O. I can't remember the name but it had a front bar with the entry on King and a larger back bar with a small stage. There were only 4 of us in the front and it was empty in the back. After about 10 minutes a band started playing from the back and at about the 60 second mark I had to check out the guitarist who was playing. Jeff Healy playing to an empty house ! I never heard of him before but I was captivated, mesmerized and shocked at his technical abilities and his musical prowess. What a talent and what a treasure he really was. Too many took him for granted but he always put a smile on my face. A lot of us miss the man and his music. Bless you Jeff Healy.
I cried when he died the cover of my album was blind you know can you believe that he was soooooo talented.. I loved himdearley see ya in heaven my love ...
Jeff Healey was a gift from God to the rest of us mortals showing us how a Man can accomplish so much even when he is faced with tremendous adversity and physical challenges. God Bless the beautiful legacy and music created by this Wonderful human being.
Amen. He was the best. Did this better than the Beatles. I seen him dozens of times since I lived not far from him. His rock band his jazz band his blues band. Most talented man ever.
There’s a difference between being able to play something “technically “ and whatis happening here. This is a legend playing with heart and god given talent and you can’t practice this.
Everytime I watch this God it makes me feel as though this life has got something wrong when it can take such a wonderful person & leave so many evil ones still on this planet .. when watching this guy live was like seeing & feeling someone from another planet .. you will never be forgotten young man. RIP
The first time I heard Jeff Healey was back in the early 80s and one of my best friends had a cassette tape and he brought it by and let me listen and I was blown away ! He never told me about his style of playing the guitar and a little while after that I saw him on TV and I just sat there in shock ! He's one of the greatest guitarists I have ever seen or heard .
I was working at a hotel in Dallas and Jeff Healey was playing a show there. I was assigned so to speak to help him with luggage and to his room, he was a pretty big, tall fellow. Anyway he was pretty cool, I was surprised he didn't have a handler/gofer. Needless to say I saw him play that night. He played the most awesome rendition of "My guitar gently weeps" I've ever heard. I was only ten feet from him. Yea, he was badass, only 2nd to SRV in that hard rock/blues style. Ok, so he's not Jimmy Page, but he was his own musician.
@@glenlee9537 What are you on dude? First off, she meant it as a compliment. Second, it's TRUE! Jeff Healey walks amongst the greatest guitarists (and overall musicians) in the history of the world - blind or not blind - yet how many people around the world really know who he is, compared to other greats? Jeff should be a household name, yet he isn't mentioned nearly as the others, he is consistently left off the "greatest guitarist" lists, and to state that fact is far from an insult, and/or uninformed.
@@joeblough261 I agree and I was thinking the same when I read his comment. Jeff Healey was most certainly one of the all time greats and never got the recognition he deserved. Eric Clapton who I felt was highly overrated got more recognition than he deserved and imo Clapton was just a mediocre guitarist. He was nothing like Healey. When has viewing someone as being underrated ever considered an insult?
One of the best versions of this song. Jeff will always be remembered and missed. His voice, his charisma and his skills on the guitar were supreme. Oh, and what about that backing vocal part on the outro solo? Dude… that gave me chills. It was amazing.
Had the great fortune to have seen him play in a grubby, sweaty little dive bar in Vancouver. Him and his band ripped the roof off that place. One of the most memorable performances I've ever seen. God love you, Mr. Healey.
I’ve played guitar for 2/3rds of my life and what Jeff does is completely unconventional inso far as his playing style. It’s completely unique. No one fingers these chords in the way that he does, and it’s completely obvious that he learned to play this song by ear (what other choice did he have) and that’s not a bad thing. He clearly was a musical genius.
I was in the front row, out door concert . I couldn’t believe it. He was amazing without back ups. He played so well and kicked ass. I honestly couldn’t believe what an incredible musician and voice at that time. And did until the end
I have studied guitar for nearly 50 years now and I must say Jeff Healey is one of the greatest guitarists-musicians of our era. Definitely one of my favorites.
those back up singers! man they blow! guys like jeff rarely come along. i dug him the first time i saw him, had never heard of him but knew he was a true true artist after his first song
He is not just a great guitar player he has an amazing voice. Stevie Ray Vaughan loved Jeff so you know he's pretty amazing. Or...should say: was. Rest In Peace, Jeff. You were truly an amazingly talented gift from God.
"The star that burns brightest only burns half as long". Most of us would have loved to have just a little bit of his talent. The first time I saw this guy was in the movie (Road House)and I thought to myself 'Is He For Real?', I thought maybe he was just an actor, but no he was the real thing.
These guys never got the credit they deserved! This was one tight band not to mention Jeff didn't let his blindness hold him back. Any guitarist sgould try to play with his guitar in his lap because I have its no joke. Extremely hard and I've played for 30yrs.
I thought Jeff Healy and his band played and sang this so much better than George or the Beatles. Because one can FEEL it so much stronger. I thought so before I even knew he was blind. The teens that came into our family run business played it on our Juke Box and Danced in our Dance Floor usually before proposing or asking the girl to go steady, the guys they were there with were with. I was very young. No music videos out yet. Too young to go to a concert yet. Upon hearing he was dead the of his death, I cried. He suffered greatly and yet still turned songs into beauty and emotion one could see and feel. May he R.I.P😔♥️🌹
I remember hearing him back in the 80s when he first came out with "Cruel little number", but this is the first time I have heard this cover from him, and it was really MOVING. Rarely are cover songs as good or better than the originals, but he really knocked this one out of the park with ALL the bases loaded. The backup vocals were powerful too. I loved the original, but I am hard pressed to decide which I like better.
I think Jeff's ordeal with cancer was getting the best of him at this point, he used to be able to hit higher notes with his voice which is why I think the backup singers were brought in for this session, he even said "Thank you" at one point when they filled in for him. But anyway... here is the studio cut of this song from when his voice worked better, it is a little cleaner of a song also with not as much going on... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QT-D75P9-EE.html
i grew up with the bass player joe rockman and was very fortunate to have seen him play numerous times. he was an extremely good guy. very humble. was at a festival at pine knob with the band outside of detroit where lenny kravitz had limited stage time but waited for him to come and join him on stage. later that evening at a very small diner / restaurant with a 3 piece house band, while having dinner with with jeff and joe, lenny kravitz came in with his whole band. there were only about 20 people in the place. but everyone started going "lenny play". he said let me eat first . he did and proceeded to play 3 songs with jeff and one member of the house band. quite the night.
Phenomenal guitar playing by maestro Jeff, and what a stunning vocal solo by the backing singers - I wonder what the neighbours thought when they were practicing this style at home. Reminds me of Floyd.
the older i get....the more my conscious evolve....and seeing him performing ....is a clear message from god that nothing is impossible.i remember seeing him many times in my youth....but i never realized completly....thank you jeff healy
Like many, l became aware of Jeff Healey in the movie Road House. I became an instant fan, I was lucky enough to see him playing in downtown San Diego in the 80s. Amazing talent!!!
Saw him in Toronto at the Sars show. Fantastic! Then Rush then AC/DC then the Stones. That was when 500,000 people got to celebrate instead of wearing masks! Lol
Saw him live at his club on Bathurst Street in Toronto on a sweaty Saturday night. That man had more talent and charisma than any performer I've seen since.
The first time I saw his picture, weirdly holding his electric guitar, I said to myself, WTH! Does he even know how to hold a chord with that fingering! And I laughed at him. But the time I saw him play, my jaw dropped to the floor! And I said to myself, WTF! He play 10,000,000 times better than me. Who's laughing now eh.... To this day, Jeff Healey is my top 5 icon guitarist of all time. SALUTE to Jeff Healey!
I was fortunate enough to meet Jeff an watch him play pin ball, so talented, so missed, special Thanks to Randy Sanderson, if not for him I would not have had the chance to shake Jeff’s hand, Love You Brother, Singing to the Angels now
My brother was in a bar one night playing pool and it was really crowded. Told me a guy was playing Jeff's tunes and sounded like him but was so crowded did not see him. The modest person Jeff was.......I heard the next day....was the REAL DEAL.
