LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-MARCH 2, 2020… ON THIS DATE IN 2008 GUITARIST JEFF HEALEY DIED OF CANCER AT THE AGE OF 42. WHAT’S SO SAD IS HEALEY HAD BEEN BATTLING CANCER BASICALLY ALL OF HIS LIFE. HE LOST HIS SIGHT TO RETINOBLASTOMA, WHICH IS A RARE CANCER OF THE EYES. THIS REQUIRED THAT HIS EYES BE SURGICALLY REMOVED WHEN HE WAS 8 MONTHS OLD. AT THE AGE OF 38, HE DEVELOPED SARCOMA IN HIS LEGS THAT SPREAD TO HIS LUNGS
MOST FANS TODAY KNOW JEFF HEALEY AS THE GUITARIST WITH THE MOST UNIQUE GUITAR-PLAYING STYLE EVER INVENTED. HE PLAYED WITH THE GUITAR SITTING FLAT ON HIS LAP. AND MAN COULD THIS GUY PLAY GUITAR. HE PLAYED ALONG SUCH TALENTS AS DIRE STRAITS, STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN, BB KING, ZZ TOP, AND ERIC CLAPTON.
F*** YOU CANCER ! HERE’S HEALEY WHEN HE APPEARED ON THE DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW IN 1988