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Courtesy RTE Entertainment: Jeff Healey, the Canadian guitarist who sold over a million copies of his debut album 'See the Light' and starred opposite Patrick Swayze in 'Road House', has died.

Healey, who was 41, had battled cancer throughout his life and died on Sunday in Toronto.

As an infant Healey lost his eyesight due to retino blastoma, a rare form of cancer.

AdvertisementHe began playing the guitar when he was three-years-old and developed a style of playing the guitar across his lap while seated.

Discovered by the legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan in a Toronto bar at 15, Healey put together his first band at 17 and later found fame with his trio The Jeff Healey Band.

The trio's debut, 'See the Light', was Grammy-nominated and gave them a US hit with the track 'Angel Eyes'. 

Healey explored early jazz on his later albums but had completed work on his first rock and blues album in eight years, 'Mess of Blues'. It was due for release in Europe on 20 March.

He is survived by his wife and two children.

Legendary Texas singer, songwriter, actor and social justice activist Kris Kristofferson has endorsed Barack Obama in his bid for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.  The Texas primary election is Tuesday, March 4th.

"I believe in Barack Obama like I believed in the Kennedys," Kristofferson said. "In the months before his death, John Kennedy pointed out that while we could not agree on their choice of government, there was much in the history of Russian people we could admire in terms of personal courage in the World War and artistic and scientific achievement.  It's this spirit of finding common ground and working things out through dialogue and diplomacy that the world needs so desperately today at this critical point in our history. This is the hope that Obama inspires."

Born in Texas and raised in a military family, Kristofferson was a Golden Gloves boxer who studied creative writing at Pomona College in California. The Phi Beta Kappa graduate earned a Rhodes scholarship to study literature at Oxford, where he boxed, played rugby and continued to write songs. After graduating from Oxford, Kristofferson served in the army as an Airborne Ranger helicopter pilot and achieved the rank of Captain.

In 1965, Kristofferson turned down an assignment to teach at West Point and, inspired by songwriters like Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, moved to Nashville to pursue his music.  After struggling in Music City for several years, Kristofferson achieved remarkable success as a country songwriter at the start of the 1970s. His songs "Me and Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Sunday Morning Coming Down," and "For the Good Times," all chart-topping hits, helped redefine country songwriting.

By 1987, it was estimated that more than 450 artists had recorded Kristofferson's compositions. His renown as a songwriter triggered Kristofferson's successful career as a performer and that, in turn, brought him to the attention of Hollywood, leading to his flourishing career as a film actor.

Kristofferson has acted in more than 90 films. He'll appear in the upcoming feature films "Powder Blue" with Forest Whitaker and "He's Just Not That Into You" starring Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Afflect, Jennifer Connelly and Drew Barrymore. Other recent films include "Fast Food Nation," "Dreamer: Inspired By A True Story," "The Wendell Baker Story," "The Jacket," and "Silver City."

In 1977 Kristofferson won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in "A Star Is Born."  He's starred in cult favorites including the "Blade" trilogy, "Lone Star," "A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries," "Convoy," "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "Blume In Love," "Cisco Pike," and "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid." 

Heralded as an artist's artist, the three-time GRAMMY winner has recorded 26 albums, including three with pals Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings as part of the Highwaymen. Kristofferson has spent three decades performing concerts all over the world, in most recent years in a solo acoustic setting.

Kristofferson has reached living legend status. In addition to many other awards, Kristofferson is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, winner of the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriter Hall of Fame, and was honored with the American Veteran's Association's "Veteran of the Year Award" in 2002.  In 2007, Kristofferson was honored with the Johnny Cash Visionary Award from Country Music Television.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Drummer Buddy Miles, who played with Jimi Hendrix in his short-lived group, Band of Gypsys, died at his home in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, his publicist said.

Miles, who was 60, suffered from congestive heart failure, Duane Lee said on Wednesday. He did not know the official cause of death.

With his bombastic style, the former teen prodigy helped develop such musical forms as funk metal and acid jazz thanks to his work with such guitarists as John McLaughlin, Mike Bloomfield and Carlos Santana.

In 1967, he and Bloomfield co-founded Electric Flag, whose rock-brass sound influenced Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears.

But Miles is probably best known for his stint with Band of Gypsys, an all-black group put together by Hendrix in 1969 after the dissolution of the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

SAVANNAH, Ga., U.S.A., January 1, 2008 – The Gretsch Company, one of the world’s most well-known drum and guitar manufacturers, will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2008.  Throughout the year, Gretsch will celebrate by introducing new lines of limited edition anniversary drums, guitars, and other Gretsch products; conducting an online search for the world’s best unsigned bands; and hosting a major concert event in New York City featuring an illustrious lineup of “Gretsch Greats.”

“It’s quite exciting to reach this remarkable milestone,” said President Fred W. Gretsch.  “We owe our many years of success to four generations of Gretsch owners and the dedicated men and women on their team who were – and are – passionate about great music and high-quality instruments.”

According to research conducted by American Management Services, Inc., only three percent of American family-owned businesses survive to the fourth generation.  The Gretsch Company is among that relative handful of fourth-generation companies. 

Based in Savannah, Ga., the company has earned its reputation as an industry leader through 125 years of enduring commitment to manufacturing professional-quality, handcrafted instruments.  The Gretsch Company began in 1883 when Friedrich Gretsch, a German immigrant, started making banjos, tambourines and other instruments in a Brooklyn, N.Y. factory.  At the time, Chester A. Arthur was president of the United States and the Brooklyn Bridge was celebrating its grand opening, making it much easier for young Friedrich to get to and from Manhattan from his Brooklyn, N.Y. shop. 

The company’s popularity grew steadily, then exploded with the arrival of rock-n-roll in the 1950s and 1960s as Gretsch attracted famous endorsers like George Harrison, Bo Diddley and Charlie Watts. 

Gretsch has been a family business for all but 18 years of its history, starting when third-generation owner Fred Gretsch, Jr. sold The Gretsch Company to Baldwin Music Company in 1967 – a period much maligned by Gretsch aficionados.  Without the family commitment that had driven the business for so many years, the company faltered.  As a testament to his passion for the family business, the company’s current president, Fred W. Gretsch, vowed to one day regain control.  In 1985, he made good on his promise and bought The Gretsch Company back from Baldwin.  He moved operations to Savannah, Ga., where the revitalized company began to offer new, vintage-styled Gretsch guitars and classic Gretsch drums.  The new products were immediately successful and The Gretsch Company once again became a leading force in the musical instrument industry.

Today, Gretsch drums and guitars are the preferred instruments of many studio musicians and recording artists looking for unique tonal quality and hand-made craftsmanship. 

“For as long as I can remember Gretsch drums have always epitomized ‘class,’” said longtime Gretsch endorser Phil Collins.  “I remember prowling around the drum shops of London in the 60s gazing at the beautiful drums in the windows.  More often than not it was the Gretsch kits that made my mouth water.  Then I started to notice which drummers played which drums – Charlie Watts played Gretsch, so did Tony Williams.  Many more of course, but those two were enough for me.”

As the 2007 recipient of Cox Family Enterprise Center’s Century Award for Family Business, the company is also known for its strong commitment to community service.  Last year, Gretsch awarded four college scholarships and donated numerous guitars for school fundraisers across the country.  The Gretsch family was also an early major sponsor of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon, Ga. 

“The Gretsch Company is gearing up for another 125 years of excellence” said CFO Dinah Gretsch.  “We look forward to an exciting future creating that great Gretsch sound.”

More information about The Gretsch Company’s 125th Anniversary celebrations can be found at www.gretsch125th.com

and www.myspace.com/gretsch125th.

About The Gretsch Company

Founded in 1883 as a small musical instrument shop in Brooklyn, N.Y., The Gretsch Company, now based in Savannah, Ga., has produced some of the world’s greatest drums and guitars over the span of four generations.  With its emphasis on hand-craftsmanship and commitment to quality, Gretsch has pioneered new designs and manufacturing techniques, winning endorsements from some of the music industry’s most respected artists, including Chet Atkins, Charlie Watts, Neil Young and Phil Collins.  Gretsch also owns and manufactures some of the other most popular and historic music industry products and brands including Bigsby® Vibratos and Sho-Bud® Pedal Steel Guitars.  The company has strong worldwide ties with musical giants Kaman and Fender, placing the Gretsch name in concert halls and recording studios around the globe.