J. Geils, the founder of the J. Geils Band, was found dead in his Groton, Massachusetts, home Tuesday, according to police. He was 71.

Gorton police responded to Geils’ house at about 4 p.m. EDT and found the musician unresponsive. The authorities pronounced him dead at the scene.

Groton Chief of Police Donald Palma Jr. said an initial probe "indicates that Geils died of natural causes." And because the death was "unattended," it will be investigated but "foul play is not suspected at this time," he said, according to USA Today.

Geils, whose full name was John Warren Geils Jr., formed the J. Geils Band in 1967 in Worcester, Massachusetts, and was a vocalist and guitarist of the band. At the time, he was a student at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

The band, whose members were Danny Klein, Richard "Magic Dick" Salwitz, Stephen Jo Bladd, Peter Wolf and Seth Justman, soon became popular and its eponymous album was released in 1970. It released 11 studio albums before breaking up in 1985.

“Freeze Frame,” the band’s third album remained No. 1 for four weeks in 1983, and its hit song, "Centerfold," topped for six weeks on the Billboard Top 100. Other big hits by the band include, "Must of Got Lost," "Love Stinks" and “Bloodshot.”

The J. Geils band was also nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the fourth time last fall.

Peter Wolf, the band’s frontman, took to Facebook to write a short message about Geils.

"Thinking of all the times we kicked it high and rocked down the house! R.I.P. Jay Geils," Wolf said.

English rock band Foghat also posted its condolences for Geils on Facebook.

“We did so many shows with them back in the 70's and they were one of the best bands we ever toured with. Great, great music. Our thoughts are with his family at this time,” the band wrote.

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