Artists celebrate life of Jeff Healy

(andPOP) - International music stars celebrated the life of Jeff Healey Saturday, May 3 in the first of two weekend tributes to the blind guitar hero—who died in March 2008 after a long battle with cancer at the age of 41.

Some of the artists who took the stage were rocker Randy Bachman, guitarist David Wilcox, bluesman Colin James and singer Alannah Myles. The show also featured ‘Deep Purple's’ Ian Gillan—who played with Healey several times.

“We worked with each other a lot and I had a great deal of respect for him.... He always used to get up and jam with us when we came into town,” said Gillian.
Healy rose to fame as the leader of the Jeff Healey Band. As a child, Healey was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer— retinoblastoma—resulting in his loss of sight.

Proceeds from this weekend's sold-out concerts will go to Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund and the Healey Family Trust.