J. Geils facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J. Geils
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Background information | |
Birth name | John Warren Geils Jr. |
Born | New York City, U.S. |
February 20, 1946
Died | April 11, 2017 Groton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
(aged 71)
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Years active | 1967–2012 |
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John Warren Geils Jr. (February 20, 1946 – April 11, 2017), known as J. Geils, was an American guitarist. He was best known as the leader of The J. Geils Band.
J. Geils grew up in New York City and became very interested in jazz and blues music. He moved to Massachusetts for college. While studying there, he formed a band called the J. Geils Blues Band.
Later, they dropped "Blues" from their name and became The J. Geils Band. They released their first album in 1970. For most of the 1970s, they played soul and rhythm and blues-influenced rock music. In the 1980s, their sound changed to pop music.
After the band broke up in 1985, Geils stopped performing regularly. He spent time restoring and racing cars. He also worked as a music producer sometimes. He did reunite with his band for occasional tours in the 2000s and 2010s.
Contents
Early Life and Interests
John Warren Geils Jr. was born on February 20, 1946, in New York City. He grew up in Morris Plains, New Jersey.
In 1959, his family moved to Bedminster. He went to Bernards High School and graduated in 1964. In high school, he was part of the math club, physics club, and student council. He also loved cars, the band club, and the marching band. He was a big fan of motorcycles too.
His father worked at Bell Labs and loved jazz music. From a young age, J. Geils heard his father's jazz albums. He listened to artists like Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. His father even took him to a Louis Armstrong concert.
Geils learned to play the trumpet and drums. He also listened to blues singers like Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters on the radio. In 1964, he started attending Northeastern University. He played trumpet in their marching band. He later moved to Worcester Polytechnic Institute to study mechanical engineering.
Musical Journey
J. Geils first played jazz trumpet, but he later switched to blues guitar. In the mid-1960s, he formed an acoustic blues trio. It was called 'Snoopy and the Sopwith Camels'. He formed it with bassist Danny Klein and harmonica player Richard "Magic Dick" Salwitz. They were all studying mechanical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
The group later moved to Boston. They added new members, including drummer Stephen Jo Bladd and lead singer Peter Wolf. Geils then formed the 'J. Geils Blues Band'. Seth Justman joined as the final member. The band released their first album in 1970.
The J. Geils Band's Success
The band became known as "The J. Geils Band". They released eleven albums between 1970 and 1985. Their music was influenced by soul and rhythm and blues.
Their sound started to include more pop and rock music. This change led to their breakthrough album, Love Stinks, in 1980. Their next album, Freeze Frame, was a huge hit. It featured the song "Centerfold", which was number one for six weeks. The song "Freeze Frame" also became a top 10 hit.
After a period of disagreements, Peter Wolf left the band to start a solo career. The J. Geils Band then broke up in 1985. J. Geils decided to take a break from music. He focused on his passion for auto racing and restoring cars.
Solo Music and Other Projects
In the 1990s, J. Geils recorded two blues albums with Magic Dick. He then formed a jazz trio. He played with guitarists Duke Robillard and Gerry Beaudoin. In 2005, he released his first solo album, Jay Geils Plays Jazz!.
In 2015, J. Geils was honored by his old high school. He was named to the Wall of Honor at Bernards High School in Bernardsville, New Jersey.
KTR Motorsports: A Love for Cars
J. Geils's father also sparked his interest in cars. His father took him to auto races in Pennsylvania in the 1950s. Geils became very interested in Italian sports cars.
In the early 1980s, when The J. Geils Band was very popular, he raced cars about five times a year. He later opened KTR Motorsports. This was a shop in Ayer, Massachusetts. It specialized in restoring and repairing classic sports cars like Ferrari and Maserati. He sold the shop in 1996, but he continued to be involved with the company.
Later Life and Passing
In 1982, J. Geils moved to Groton, Massachusetts. The town honored him by declaring December 1, 2009, as J. Geils Day.
On April 11, 2017, police found J. Geils at his home. He had passed away from natural causes at the age of 71.
Discography
As Jay Geils
- Bluestime - with Magic Dick (Rounder, 1994)
- Little Car Blues - with Magic Dick (Rounder, 1996)
- Jay Geils Plays Jazz! (Stony Plain, 2005)
- Jay Geils, Gerry Beaudoin and the Kings of Strings featuring Aaron Weinstein (Arbors, 2006)
- Toe Tappin' Jazz (North Star, 2009)
As New Guitar Summit
- New Guitar Summit - with Duke Robillard (Stony Plain, 2004)
- Live at the Stoneham Theatre (Stony Plain, 2004)
- Jazzthing II - with Randy Bachman (Koch, 2007)
- Shivers (Stony Plain, 2008)
See also
In Spanish: J. Geils para niños