Not only did I get to play with these great international

Hear now the voice of Jeff Healey, the blind virtuoso whose fingers sang upon the strings, who declared with gratitude and remembrance: “Not only did I get to play with these great international musicians, but I also had the opportunity to jam with the local celebrities in Toronto, people like the Walsh Brothers, David Wilcox, Kim Mitchell and the like. It was a great learning experience.” At first glance, these words appear as a simple recollection of his musical journey, but within them lies a truth both profound and universal: greatness is not born in isolation, but in communion with others, and learning is carried not only from masters afar, but also from companions near.

He speaks first of international musicians, whose fame and renown stretched across borders. To play with such figures was to stand at the summit of artistry, to learn from those who had carried their gifts before the eyes of the world. Yet Healey does not stop there; he honors also the local celebrities, the artists of Toronto, his home ground, whose music burned just as brightly, though upon a nearer stage. In this humility lies a teaching: wisdom is not found only in distant lands, but also in the voices of those who share our soil.

This union of the global and the local recalls the spirit of the ancient Greeks, who welcomed traveling philosophers into their city-states yet also revered their own teachers. Socrates questioned Athenians in the marketplace, while wisdom from far-flung lands flowed in through trade and dialogue. Athens thrived not by choosing one over the other, but by embracing both—the brilliance of the foreign and the insight of the familiar. So too did Healey, blending the lessons of the world with the pulse of his own city, weaving them into the unique sound that became his signature.

Consider also the story of jazz in America. Though born in New Orleans, its growth came through constant exchange—local players jamming together in clubs, yet also learning from the great touring bands who swept through town. Young musicians honed their craft in smoky basements, absorbing the riffs of friends, then transformed them after hearing the giants on stage. In time, these local learners themselves became legends. This is the very learning experience Healey honors: a process of growth where greatness emerges through collaboration, humility, and openness.

The emotional heart of his words is gratitude. Healey, despite his own astonishing gift, speaks not of his genius but of what he received from others. This is the spirit of a true master: to acknowledge that even the most radiant flame is kindled by sparks from many fires. By playing with the great and the humble alike, he learned not only technique but also the rhythm of fellowship, the humility of listening, and the joy of creation shared.

The lesson, O listener, is clear: do not despise the local while reaching for the global, nor worship the distant while ignoring the near. Both are teachers. Every person you meet, whether renowned or unknown, holds within them a note you can learn from, a lesson that can enrich your song. To close yourself off is to silence half the music of the world. To open yourself, as Healey did, is to create a harmony greater than any one instrument can achieve.

What then shall you do? First, seek teachers in every place—those whose names echo across nations, and those whose names are spoken only in your neighborhood. Second, embrace collaboration with humility, for learning flows most freely when pride is set aside. Third, give thanks for every opportunity to jam, whether with masters or with peers, for in each encounter lies the chance to refine your craft and expand your soul.

And remember always: as Jeff Healey declared, the path to greatness is not solitary. It is a chorus, a symphony of shared experience, where the voices of the mighty and the voices of the humble alike shape who we become. If you would grow, then play with all—listen, learn, and give back—and your life too will become a song that endures beyond your own time.