Guitarist Jeff Healey dies, aged 41

Blind Canadian guitarist Jeff Healey has passed away, aged 41.

Healey, who famously played with his guitar flat on his lap, died of cancer in Toronto on Sunday. He leaves his wife, Christie and two children, Rachel, 13 and Derek, 3.

The rock and blues star was diagnosed with retino balstoma, a rare form of cancer, at birth and lost his eyesight to the illness when he was one.

He began playing guitar aged three and shot to fame with The Jeff Healey Band in the '80s. The group's Grammy-nominated LP See The Light sold over one million copies in the US and spawned the hit single 'Angel Eyes'.

Healey performed and collaborated with artists such as BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, George Harrison and Mark Knopfler.

The musician had recently finished recording his first rock-blues album in eight years, Mess of Blues. The album will be released as scheduled in April.

He was due to tour the UK and perform on Later with Jools Holland later this year.