This timeline includes life and career milestones from Jeff Healey's 41 years as a man and a musician. ;xNLx;;xNLx;Entries to this timeline include photos, video and links. Click an individual event to see more about it, and scroll back and forth through the timeline using either the scroll wheel on your mouse, or the bar at the bottom of the window.;xNLx;;xNLx;We hope you enjoy this unique journey through Jeff's life.
Norman Jeffrey "Jeff" Healey was born at St Joseph's Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Friday March 25th, 1966.
On July 20th, 1966, just shy of 4 months old, Jeff is adopted by Bud and Yvonne Healey.
At age 7 months, the surgical removal of Jeff’s right eye (and subsequently his left, 4 months later) and their replacement with artificial ones was necessitated by a form of cancer of the eyes called retinoblastoma.
Jeff is given his first guitar by his father.
In 1980, Jeff began hosting a jazz segment for the CBC after attending an open house for the broadcaster where vibraphonist Peter Appleyard convinced the people at the radio program Fresh Air to put the then-14-year-old Healey on the air after discussing jazz with him.
At the age of 15, Jeff's first band, 'Blue Direction' (with Rob Quail on second guitar, Jeremy Littler on bass and Graydon Chapman on drums) is formed
Jeff is invited to join Albert Collins and Stevie Ray Vaughan on stage at Toronto blues hotspot, Albert's Hall.
In the Fall of 1985,Jeff first meets drummer Tom Steven, then bass player Joe Rockman at legendary Toronto blues club, Grossman's Tavern and the Jeff Healey Band is born.
Jeff Healey Band releases its first indie single for the songs Adrianna and See The Light.
In 1986 a chance meeting would mark the start of a 22 year friendship and further set Jeff's career path in stone...
