1966/69 – The J. Geils Blues Band

1967 – The Unicorn Coffee House, 815 Boylston Street, Boston, MA

Thanks to Ray Paret for the following info (The J. Geils Blues Band were signed to Amphion Managment, ran by Ray Paret and David Jenks).

The picture from The Unicorn below shows the drums from a band called Underground Cinema that eventually became The Ultimate Spinach and the drummer in that group at that time was Keith Lahteinen. I have no idea who the other two guys playing with J.Geils are, but I would guess that this photo is from 1967 before July or August as it was during that summer that my partner David Jenks and I signed Underground Cinema and changed their name to Ultimate Spinach.

1967_J_Geils_Blues_Band_Original_490 Thanks to Valerie Klein for the photo.


1968 – January 23-24-25-26-27. The Catacombs, 1120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA
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The J. Geils Blues Band Performing On Cambridge Common. circa 1967/68
1967_Geils_Blues_BandThe first photo is from Jay’s ‘New Guitar Summit’ DVD Live At the Stoneham Theatre. The photo shows Jay with Magic Dick in the background. Taken at Cambridge Common.
Found the second photo in Googles archive. Unfortunately the site it’s from no longer hosts the photo. The drummer looks like Keith Lahteinen who left The Ultimate Spinach late 67 early 68 to join the J. Geils Blues Band.


1968 – Amphion Managment Promo Photo

The “fourth” guy (in the photo below) is Keith Lahteinen, but he was the original drummer in The Ultimate Spinach and in fact recorded their first album on MGM. Keith quit Ultimate Spinach to join J. Geils (late 1967 early 1968). It was later that year that David Jenks and I decided that the band needed more so we asked Peter and Stephen to join after the Hallucinations broke up and that’s when the band really started to cook! Keith was a great drummer and great blues singer but to make it the band needed more of a rock and roll edge!

1968_J_Geils_Blues_Band_Promo_490


February 1969 – TV Show Called “Mixed Bag” on WGBH Channel 2

2013_Feb_04_Greater_Boston_1_Guest_With_Jay_Geils_Photo_Geils_Blues_Band_01


1969 – March 14th & 15th, The Woodrose Hall (aka The Woodrose Ballroom)

The J. Geils Blues Band played at the Woodrose Hall on March 14th & 15th 1969. This photo shows Peter Wolf, Jay Geils and possibly Magic Dick, staying at Steve Nelson’s house at nearby Conway, Massachusetts. 1969_Wolf_Jay_Conway_490


1969 – Fusion Magazine, April 14, 1969 1969_J.Geils_Blues_Band_Fusion_490

  • scott mac

    Believe I have the promo poster for the Woodrose Ballroom gig.

  • funkyjudge

    WOW! Any chance of a scan or photo? I'll add it to the site. Thanks

  • Flavpet

    I definitely have the poster of the Woodrose Ballroom right in front of me. It was July 27 and 28. I was the bass player in the Donny B. Waugh band. We played at the Woodrose Ballroom that night too.

  • Pondpickles

    Do you happen to remember who the drummer was with Donny B. Waugh?

  • Anonymous

    Found this ad by Donny B. Waugh looking for a drummer. Billboard Magazine, October 19th, 1968.

  • Flavpet

    Gary Miller was the drummer. He is from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I haven’t been in contact with him since the band broke up in 1970.

  • Youcallmeray

    Flavpet – WOW! I would love to get a copy of that! This is Ray Paret – remember me? I managed Donny and I am still in touch with Bob Zachary – I am on Facebook – Raymond G. Paret – are you?