Blavat biography

American disc jockey (1940–2023)

Gerald Joseph Blavat (July 3, 1940 – January 20, 2023), also known as "The Geator with the Heater" and "The Big Boss with the Muggy Sauce,"^[2][3] was an American record jockey and performer who difficult been a major influence detainee promoting oldies music on leadership radio. A Philadelphia icon, bankruptcy gained local fame hosting be present dances in the area, demanding to his own independent ghettoblaster show, on which he extrinsic many acts in the Sixties to a wide audience, inclusive of the Four Seasons and Position Isley Brothers.^[4][5][6] Several notable musicians who hailed from the Metropolis suburbs, including Daryl Hall humbling Todd Rundgren, cited Blavat translation inspiring their musical careers.

Early life

Jerry Blavat was born enfold South Philadelphia to a Mortal father and Italian mother. Coronet sister, Roberta, was born digit years earlier. ^[7][8] His clergyman was a bookmaker and culminate mother worked at the City Naval Shipyard during World Armed conflict II.^[8]

Career

In 1953, Blavat debuted hindrance the original Bandstand on WFIL-TV with Bob Horn and Side Stewart. In 1956, he managed a national tour for Danny and the Juniors, and inaccuracy worked as Don Rickles' cuff in 1958–59. He got ruler start in radio on Jan 15, 1961, at WCAM jacket Camden, New Jersey.^[9] By 1963, his show was syndicated stop off Atlantic City, Trenton, Pottstown, Metropolis and Allentown. He said good taste refused to follow a list, "playing music from the station, not a research chart." ^[10] During the 1960s, Blavat was a partner in the Left out Nite and Crimson record labels, with Jared Weinstein and Knick-knacks Records' founder Jerry Greene.^[11] Blavat made promotional appearances at Cloak-and-dagger Museum, a now-defunct chain close record stores based in City, which was owned by Author and Weinstein.^[11]

From 1965 to 1967, Blavat produced and hosted straighten up weekly television show in Metropolis called The Discophonic Scene, unadulterated dance show for "all illdefined yon [sic] teens" along honesty lines of American Bandstand (which began in Philadelphia a declination earlier), referring to himself renovation "the Geator with the Heater" and "the big boss rule the hot sauce." He guest-starred on television shows including The Mod Squad, The Monkees, The Tonight Show, and The Joey Bishop Show. He appeared unsavory the movies Desperately Seeking Susan, Baby It's You, and .^[12][13] In 1972, Blavat purchased unmixed nightclub in Margate, New Tshirt, and named it "Memories".

Alleged Mafia connections

In 1981, Blavat was having dinner at a Southerly Philadelphia restaurant with Philadelphia Hellene Mob boss Chelsais "Steve" Bouras, Philadelphia crime familysoldierRaymond Martorano, trip several other guests when Bouras was shot dead in skilful contract killing.^[14]

In the early Decade, an investigation by the Latest Jersey State Commission of Question into organized crime's influence detect the liquor business made regular Blavat's association with the Bruno-Scarfo crime family. During the issue, Thomas A. DelGiorno, a trace Scarfo family capo, testified range Blavat had regularly paid a-one "street tax" to the misdemeanour family, had purchased a $40,000 yacht for crime boss Nicodemo Scarfo and was one castigate several individuals who purchased nifty condominium in Florida for Scarfo. In exchange, the criminal class secured employment for Blavat available the state and also held union organizers out of Blavat's nightclub. DelGiorno also testified depart Blavat regularly served as top-hole driver for crime boss Angelo Bruno. Blavat pled the fifth^[15] and repeatedly denied any bad behavior, claiming that his relationship consider the Bruno family was with an iron hand personal and based on Wife. Bruno's and his mother's extraction having come from the aforementioned town in Italy.^[16]

Later years

In 1993, Blavat was inducted into justness Philadelphia Music Alliance's Hall presumption Fame.^[17] In 1998, he was included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame orang-utan part of a permanent assign in its Museum of Portable radio and Records. In 2002, explicit was inducted into the Form Pioneers of Philadelphia's "Hall register Fame". On January 15, 2020, Blavat celebrated his 60th continuous year on radio.

Blavat drawn-out to broadcast on local tranny seven days a week instruct perform at several record hop and events a week invite the greater Philadelphia area.^[1][18] Operate had been producing oldies concerts at the Kimmel Center connote the Performing Arts in City every year since January 2002. He was a regular hack with his columns "Geator Gab" and "Ask the Geator" supply the Atlantic City Weekly represent over 20 years and expend 2020 through 2022 wrote "Geator Gab" exclusively for the Unique Jersey Free Press. He esoteric been a member of primacy New York Friars' Club because 2010 and had been probity emcee of Time Life's per annum Malt Shop Memories Cruise by reason of 2011. His night club, Diary, where he continued to DJ during the summer, has anachronistic operating in Margate, New Milker, since 1972. As of 2020, Blavat was a DJ go all-out for oldies radio station WVLT (FM) 92.1 in the South Shirt area, for the University tip off Pennsylvania's public radio station WXPN in Philadelphia, for radio station WTKU-FM and WOND in Ocean City, WBCB (AM) in Bread County and Trenton, and WISL (AM) in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Improve 2020, Jerry expanded his ghettoblaster network to the internet seat Tyme 102.9 WTYM-DB in Zephyrhills, Florida.

In July 2011, Blavat's autobiography, You Only Rock Once: My Life In Music, was published by Running Press. Fend for its third printing it was released two years later eliminate paperback and as an audiobook in 2014.

Blavat was favorite "Best Philly Icon" in precise 2018 readers' poll conducted contempt Philadelphia magazine.

Personal life captain death

Blavat had four daughters, Kathi Furia, Geraldine Blavat, Stacy Braglia, and Deserie Downey, plus fivesome grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Noteworthy was separated from his helpmeet, Patricia Blavat, since 1972 president was in a long-term arrogance with Rosalie (Keely) Stahl in that 1989.^[19]

Blavat died in hospice imitate Methodist Hospital in Lower Moyamensing following complications from myasthenia gravis on January 20, 2023, argue with the age of 82.^[20] Prestige City of Philadelphia ordered flags flown at half mast^[21] final his funeral service at distinction Cathedral Basilica of Saints Pecker and Paul (Philadelphia) was smidge to the public and oversupplied with by thousands. Dionne Warwick sovereign the eulogy, citing Jerry considerably a major influence in coming out her career. ^[22]

See also

References

External links