Healey had been affected by cancer for the entirety of his life, having lost his sight as an infant due to retinoblastoma, which is an incredibly rare cancer that affects the eyes. His eyes had to be surgically removed and he was given replacements, leaving him blind for his entire life. Despite these setbacks, Healey managed to make a remarkable contribution to the blues and jazz scenes in Canada and worldwide.

He began playing the guitar at the age of three, and developed a unique sound and method of playing which involved placing the instrument flat on his lap. As a teenager, he performed in a four-peice band called The Blue Direction, playing in various Toronto clubs. Several years later, he formed the Jeff Healey Band, which was wildly popular in Canada and sold over a million albums in the United States. He is perhaps best known for his album See The Light.

Over the course of his musical career, he toured and sat-in with many music industry legends, including Eric Clapton, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughn, George Harrison, and many, many others. He was also an integral factor in the discovery and development of the careers of other musicians such as Amanda Marshall.

He was also an avid record collector, having amassed a collection of over 30, 000 78rpm vintage jazz records. This collection played a large role in the radio shows he hosted for CBC radio and CRJT-FM, better known as 'Jazz 91.1'. The shows, both called 'My Kind of Jazz', featured Healey discussing and playing music from his large collection.

He lived cancer-free for 38 years, until he developed sarcoma in his legs which eventually spread to his lungs and was ultimately the cause of his death, roughly a month before the release of Mess of Blues, which is to be his first rock album in eight years. Jeff Healey led a brief but rich life, and has left a notable impact on the Canadian music industry.

In the wake of Healey's passing, there will be two tribute concerts– one rock, one jazz, in order to fully appreciate his contributions to both genres – over the weekend of May 3rd. The rock concert, Jeff Healey: A Celebration, will take place on Saturday, May 3rd, at The Sound Academy (formerly known as The Docks). Its guest lineup features over 30 international artists, including Ian Gillian (of Deep Purple), Jack Bruce, and Randy Bachman. This numberdoes not include the artists who had to be turned down. Jeff Healey was in the music business for over twenty years, and made many friends along the way. On May 4th, Jeff Healey's Jazz Band Ball will take place at Healey's Roadhouse. Its lineup includes Vince Giordiano and Brad Kay, who, among others, will perform with Jeff Healey's band, the Jazz Wizards.

The proceeds from both of these shows will go to Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund and the Healey Family Trust.