J. Geils’ Birthday – February 20^th, 1946

Conversation starters:

• John “J.” Geils celebrates a birthday today! What is your favorite J. Geils Band hit?
• Happy Birthday to J. Geils! What do you think of the J. Geils Band touring without J. Geils?
• J. Geils turns 67 today! Where would you rank Geils among the greatest Rock and Roll guitarists?

Fast Facts

• Born: John W. Geils Jr. on February 20^th, 1946 in New York, New York; he grew up in Far Hills, NJ
• Played trumpet for the Northeastern University marching band in Boston, Mass.
• Geils was turned on to jazz and the blues after listening New York station WRVR
• Became certified as a mechanical engineer after transferring to technical school because of poor academic performance at NU
• The J. Geils Band declined a stint at Woodstock because they equated it to nothing more than three days in mud
• Seth Justman was attending Boston University when he was taken on by the band. Geils’ alma mater is a 20 minute walk, at most, from Northeastern University
• Geils owned several vintage Ferraris; after the J. Geils Band broke up, Geils founded the company KTR Motorsports (he sold it in 1996, but is still an active part in the co.)
• Once married to Kris Geils…as of 2004 they were sharing a post office box, so it was an amicable split
• In 2007, Groton, Mass. (the town in which he resides) declared December 1^st as “J. Geils Day”
• In 2012, the J. Geils Band went on a brief US tour sans J. Geils; this resulted in a bitter lawsuit filed by Geils against his former bandmates over the use of the band’s name

Discography (solo)

• Bluestime – 1994

J. Geils Band

• The J. Geils Band – 1970
• The Morning After – 1971
• Bloodshot – 1973
• Ladies Invited – 1973
• Nightmares…and Other Tales from the Vinyl Jungle -1974
• Hotline - 1975
• Blow  Your Face Out - 1976
• Monkey Island - 1977
• Sanctuary - 1978
• Love Stinks - 1980
• Freeze Frame - 1981
• Showtime! - 1982
• You’re Getting’ Even While I’m Gettin’ Odd – 1984

Billboard Top 200 (albums) –

• Freeze-Frame – 1982 - #1

Billboard Hot 100 (singles)

• “Centerfold” – 1982 - #1
• “Freeze-Frame” – 1982 - #4

Videos

• “Centerfold” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqDjMZKf-wg 
• “Love Stinks” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0LAs7X5ybE
• “Freeze-Frame” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqDjMZKf-wg

Sources:

• http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-j-geils-band-mw0000199650
• http://www.allmusic.com/artist/j-geils-band-mn0000776994/awards
• http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2004/10/21/fame_still_calls_j_geils/?page=full
• http://www.boston.com/names/2012/08/01/geils-sues-the-members-the-geils-band/dGbkPlR3C0jUCW1wuUYV5H/story.html

Ultimate Classic Rock posts the top 10 J. Geils Band songs