J. Geils was a guitarist best known for leading the rock group The J. Geils Band. Geils co-founded the band in 1967 with Danny Klein. They released 11 albums before breaking up in 1985.

The group had 17 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including 10 Top 40-charting hits. Their biggest single, "Centerfold," spent six weeks at No. 1, and "Freeze-Frame" peaked at No. 4.

Their music was also featured on numerous television series, including 3rd Rock from the Sun, That ‘70s Show, Freaks and Geeks, Entourage, The Simpsons, My Name Is Earl, The Office, The Goldbergs and Eastbound & Down.

Additionally, the band performed on Saturday Night Live, Top of the Pops, In Concert and New American Bandstand 1965.

Geils died April 11, 2017, in Groton, Massachusetts. He was 71.