Blind blues-rock musician Jeff Healey has died from a rare form of cancer at the age of 41.

The Canadian died yesterday (March 2) of retinoblastoma, a cancer of the retina, and the same illness that caused him to loose his sight when he was just one years old.

His publicist Richard Flohil paid tribute to the singer saying: "Jeff was an intriguing player to watch, because he played guitar - by any conventional standard - all wrong, with it flat across his lap. But he was a remarkable, a virtuoso player.”

Because of his blindness Healey played his guitar in an unconventional manner by resting the guitar on his lap. He had won many plaudits and has played with the likes of George Harrison, BB King and Mark Knopfler.

Healey was due to release his new album in Canada tomorrow and had a US and European tour in the pipeline. An appearance on Jools Holland was also planned while on the UK stint of his tour.

As well as the retinoblastoma which took his life, Healey had also undergone surgery for cancer in his legs and lungs.

(by Scott Colothan)