J. Geils, American guitarist, Died at 71

  Music

John Warren “J.” Geils was born on February 20, 1946, and died on April 11, 2017.

He was an American guitarist

J. Geils was best known as the leader of the J. Geils Band.

After he was raised in the New York metropolitan area, Geils became interested in jazz and blues music.

When he moved back to Massachusetts for his college education, he formed the J. Geils Blues Band while still a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Following the release of the word “Blues” from their name, the band released their first album in 1970, performing soul and rhythm and blues-influenced rock music for most of the 1970s, before changing styles to new wave music in the 1980s.

When the band broke up in 1985, Geils left regular performing to take up restoration and racing of automobiles, with occasional forays into music production.

J. Geils went on to appear in reunion tours with the rest of his band sporadically during the 2000s and 2010s.

Geils died of natural causes at his home in Groton, Massachusetts.

J. Geils passed away at 71 years old.