J. GEILS, 1946-2017

Guitarist John Geils Jr., founder of The J. Geils Band, was found dead in his home Tuesday in Groton, Mass., multiple news organizations announced. He was 71.

A blues musician who switched to electric from acoustic guitar in 1968 when he started working with singer Peter Wolf, the J. Geils Band went from being one of Boston’s most popular bands to signing with Atlantic Records within two years.

Popular as the band was on the 1970s blues rock circuit—they were particularly proficient at reviving long-forgotten R&B tunes such as “Lookin’ for a Love” and “First I Look at the Purse”—it was not until 1975 that they had their first Top 20 single, “Must of Got Lost.” The group would have 10 Top 40 singles.

Despite the band carrying his name, his role was largely supportive behind the Wolf’s vibrant vocals and the aggressive and innovative harmonica playing of Magic Dick (Richard Salwitz). Keyboardist Seth Justman and Wolf wrote most of the band’s songs, though tunes worked on by the entire group, such as their first hit “Whammer Jammer,” were credited to “Juke Joint Jimmy.”

As tastes moved away from blues-oriented rock, the J. Geils Band, which at one point shortened the name to Geils, shifted to a more commercial rock sound and had mainstream success with “Centerfold,” “Freeze Frame” and “Love Stinks” in the 1980s. Citing musical differences, Wolf left in 1983, and the group disbanded two years later.

In the mid-1990s, Geils and Magic Dick formed a blues group that made two albums for Rounder and toured small clubs. Mostly, he ran a car restoration garage and participated in auto racing.

The J. Geils Band reunited in 1999 for a tour and made sporadic appearances in the 2000s, including opening for Aerosmith at Fenway Park in 2010. In 2012, Geils did not participate in the last reunion tour, and he unsuccessfully sued the band members over use of the name.

A jazz fan who studied trumpet and drums as a teenager, Geils’ last albums were the instrumental outings J. Geils Plays Jazz! in 2005 and Jay Geils Toe Tapping Jazz in 2011.