Jeff Haines
Musician – Physician
By age eight Jeff already had visions of having a band, and the Haines Family Singers destroyed their dad’s ukeleles playing “air guitar” to Beatles’ records. At age 16, he began playing acoustic guitar seriously, learning the basics from his brother, who was in a band at college. Having a good ear, Jeff became proficient in learning cover material from artists’ recordings such as Joni Mitchell and David Crosby. Through intensive study, he discovered the joy of alternate guitar tunings.
Lifelong Music Journey
While in college, Jeff was part of an acoustic trio, playing the local clubs in Syracuse, NY. He ran the campus coffeehouse with his fellow songwriter/guitarist, Mark Peck. They recruited talent to play for donuts (literally), and packed the house when they played. There were several “concert” venues in those days that attracted crowds of up to 1500, which was quite a thrill.
Jeff had the “performing bug,” playing out weekly during school, and summers in the local North Jersey club circuit with his closest friend, guitar wizard Peter Biedermann. They continued performing through Jeff’s first three years of medical school.
But when clinical medicine started, the demands on his time meant fewer opportunities to perform. “The music died” for Jeff. He went through his “dark night of the soul,” became very depressed, and felt like a vital part of himself had died also. For 10 years, he struggled to finish medical school, and his residency and psychiatry with active manic-depressive illness before realizing he had to be performing regularly again.
01
02
03
THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC
Jeff’s first real job was as a psychiatrist at a state psychiatric hospital. He inherited 25 patients who had defied deinstitutionalization. With the help of some new medications, an enthusiastic team of professionals, and Jeff sharing music with his patients, singing along with his guitar accompaniment, miraculous transformations began to happen. They averaged 17 years in the hospital and then suddenly were getting better and going home. Music clearly had a pivotal role in their healing, and also in Jeff’s own.
In the 1990’s, he played larger venues in New England, including clubs, festivals, coffeehouses, and parties. The “performing bug” was alive again, and in mid-2000, Jeff left clinical practice for a while to pursue music full-time.
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
Writing, practicing, experimenting with tunings and different rhythmic approaches made that time very fulfilling and rewarding. Between 1998 and 2005, he took professional voice lessons with former New York Opera singer Ruth Morton, who helped Sting save his voice in the early ’80s
Not only did Ruth give Jeff another “instrument”, a voice with a well over three octave range, she also collaborated with him on arranging all the material found on Finally Free.
RECORDINGS & CREATIVE WORK
“Deep in the Falling Snow” is featured on Jeff’s first solo CD, “You Are The Difference,” released in 2001, spanned Jeff’s 20-year healing journey up to that point.
His second CD, “For A New You”, released in 2002, has solo pieces and collaborations.
Jeff is also writing a book that highlights wisdom gleaned from 36 years of psychiatric practice. It will have song lyrics, CDs, and daily readings for inspiration and self-development.
Jeff has played close to 20 years with his older brother Greg and three close college “friends/brothers”. BFL-Brothers For Life has been performing regularly in Upstate New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New Jersey. To date, they have three recordings: “Safely Home” 2008, “Awakenings” 2012, “Visible Soul” 2018, and are currently recording more originals written by Jeff and bandmates Mark Peck, Greg Haines, and Barry Vaughn, to be released late in 2026.
His trio LightWorks with Catherine Foster Mitchell and Craig Whitson, released “Long Way Home” in 2010 and are currently working on a new recording of Originals to be released also later in 2026.
MUSIC WITH A PURPOSE
He plans to give workshops, solo and group performances as part of his vision to extend healing through music. He is now fully utilizing his physician and musician skills, free of the limitations of Organized Medicine, since his full retirement from Psychiatry in Feb. 2025.
The combination of his common sense message, a touch of shamanic wisdom, great guitar work, and pristine vocals has something for everyone in these rapidly changing times of high anxiety and uncertainty.
All told, Jeff Haines has come full circle in honoring his deep desire and commitment to share his music with the world. In spite of extraordinary setbacks, Jeff has managed to maintain his balance and share his experience to benefit others, to increase happiness in the world. In his profession, he has helped scores of people survive life-threatening situations in his untiring efforts to replace despair with fulfillment, hope, and joy.
His music reflects his own Guidance and epiphanies. Encouraged by his success with fellow seekers, Jeff is embarking on a voyage with his muse to help others stay focused on their Polar star of meaning, purpose, joy, and fulfilment while avoiding the hurricanes of despair, confusion, and regrets.
Jeff hopes you will share his vision and his enthusiasm on this joint venture.