Net Worth Ranker
What Is Jeff Healey’s Net Worth?
Jeff Healey was a Canadian blues-rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who achieved international recognition for his musical talent and unique guitar-playing style [4, 5]. Despite being blind since childhood, he defied expectations and became a successful musician, leaving a lasting impact on the world of music [3, 5]. At the time of his death on March 2, 2008, Jeff Healey’s net worth was estimated to be around $1.5 million [1, 3]. However, other sources estimate his net worth to be $3 million [9]. This figure reflects his success as a musician, songwriter, and performer, as well as his ability to connect with audiences through his unique sound [1, 7]. This wealth was accumulated through album sales, live performances, and acting [10]. He was born Norman Jeffrey Healey in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on March 25, 1966 [2, 3].
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Norman Jeffrey “Jeff” Healey was born in Toronto on March 25, 1966 [2, 3]. At eight months old, he lost his sight due to retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer, which necessitated the surgical removal of his eyes and their replacement with artificial ones [2, 3]. Adopted when he was four months old, Healey grew up in the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke [4]. He began playing guitar at the age of three, developing a unique style of playing the instrument flat on his lap [2, 4]. By the time he was 19, Healey had developed a reputation in Toronto as a blues-rock prodigy [4]. Jeff Healey graduated from Etobicoke Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Ontario, Canada [3].
Rise to Fame and Musical Achievements
Jeff Healey’s career took off in the late 1980s with the formation of the Jeff Healey Band [9, 10]. The band released their debut album, “See the Light,” in 1988, which featured the hit single “Angel Eyes” [1, 9]. “Angel Eyes” reached #5 in the US and #16 in Canada [1]. The album achieved platinum status in Canada and earned Healey a Grammy Award nomination in 1990 [6, 9]. Healey’s distinctive guitar technique and soulful voice garnered him accolades from fans and critics alike [9]. His ability to seamlessly blend blues, jazz, and rock helped him carve out a unique niche in the music world [6, 9]. Jeff Healey also had success with the singles “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, “Angel”, and “Stuck in the Middle with You” [1]. In 1989, he appeared in the movie “Road House” [1]. Throughout his career, Healey released several successful albums and toured extensively, solidifying his status as a leading blues-rock musician [9, 10]. Some of his notable albums with The Jeff Healey Band include *See the Light*, *Hell to Pay*, *Feel This*, *Cover to Cover*, and *Get Me Some* [1]. As a solo artist or with The Jazz Wizards, he released *Among Friends*, *Adventures in Jazzland*, *It’s Tight Like That*, *Mess of Blues*, *Songs From The Road*, and *Last Call* [1].
Other Ventures and Recognition
Beyond his music career, Jeff Healey was also a dedicated jazz aficionado and record collector [2, 4]. He amassed a vast collection of over 30,000 78 rpm records and hosted a radio program on CBC Radio called “My Kinda Jazz,” where he shared his knowledge and passion for early jazz recordings [2, 4]. Healey also owned Healey’s Roadhouse, a popular Toronto venue where he often performed and hosted other local musicians [9]. Despite lending his name to the club and often playing there, Jeff Healey did not own or manage the bar [12]. Jeff Healey was recognized as one of the world’s premier blues-rock guitarists and toured with artists such as Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, ZZ Top, Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones, and The Allman Brothers Band [4]. In 1990, he was voted Best New Guitarist and Best New Talent in a reader’s poll conducted by Guitar Player magazine [4]. Healey received an Honorary Licentiate from the Royal Conservatory of Music and an honorary Doctorate of Letters degree from McMaster University [4]. Jeffrey Sean Healey held the position of Professor at McMaster University in 2024 and received an annual salary of $185,283.34 [8].
Illness and Death
Jeff Healey passed away on March 2, 2008, at the age of 41, after a long battle with sarcoma cancer [1, 2]. His death was felt deeply by fans and fellow musicians alike [5, 13]. Throughout his career, Healey remained an advocate for both the blind and literacy, lending his name and volunteering his time to various CNIB fundraisers and Toronto’s Word On The Street festival [2]. He also supported Sick Kids Hospital, focusing on Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund, a Childhood Retinoblastoma Research foundation [2]. Jeff Healey’s legacy continues to inspire musicians and fans around the world [7, 13].
