You Only Rock Once: My Life in Music [Hardcover]
Jerry Blavat (Author)
The long-awaited autobiography of entertainment icon Jerry Blavat, You Only Rock Once is the wildly entertaining and unfiltered story of the man whose career began at the age of 13 on the TV dance show Bandstand and became a music legend. Lifelong friendships with the likes of Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra, a controversial relationship with Philadelphia Mafia boss Angelo Bruno that resulted in a decade-long FBI investigation, and much more colors this amazing journey from the early 60s through today.
Now, some 50 years after his first radio gig, Blavat puts it all in perspective in this uniquely American tale of a “little cockroach kid” borne out of the immigrant experience who lived the American Dream.
Jerry Interviewed: http://www.trn1.com/amn-jerry-blavat
Blavat was one of the early rock-and-roll deejays who revolutionized the profession and invented the "Oldies" format. He had national success in the ’60s as host of the popular CBS-TV dance show The Discophonic Scene, but is best known as a high-energy oldies deejay on the air and at live events throughout the Middle Atlantic region. With a successful nightclub outside Atlantic City, NJ (Memories); regular radio shows on 88.5 FM WXPN in Philadelphia, 92.1 FM WVLT in South Jersey, and 98.3 FM WTKU in Atlantic City; and scores of sold-out live dance events every year, Blavat is as popular as ever. He lives in Philadelphia, PA. Please visit him at jerryblavat.com. BOOK: The long-awaited autobiography of entertainment icon Jerry Blavat, You Only Rock Once is the wildly entertaining and unfiltered story of the man whose career began at the age of 13 on the TV dance show Bandstand and became a music legend. Lifelong friendships with the likes of Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra, a controversial relationship with Philadelphia Mafia boss Angelo Bruno that resulted in a decade-long FBI investigation, and much more colors this amazing journey from the early 60s through today. Now, some 50 years after his first radio gig, Blavat puts it all in perspective in this uniquely American tale of a "little cockroach kid" borne out of the immigrant experience who lived the American Dream.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7624-4215-7
Writing a narrative that teems with zest and hipness, Blavat invites readers to accompany him on the inside track through the early days of doo wop and R&B to his national stature as an influential figure on the pop scene. Bandstand icon Dick Clark, in his foreword, spells out how much clout Blavat wielded in the heyday of the top acts of the '60s and '70s, rising from a teen "committee member" of the popular TV show to a powerhouse DJ on the East Coast from his studio built in his garage in Philadelphia, and later a top-rated TV stint. He discusses his ground-breaking Alan Freed–sponsored shows at the famed Paramount, his friendships with black doo wop and soul groups before the Jim Crow barrier came down, and his hobnobbing with Hollywood royalty including Sinatra, Frankie Avalon, Tony Curtis, and Sammy Davis Jr. He doesn't shy from talking about his wild ways with the ladies and the run-ins with the law concerning his mobbed-up pals. This soulful memoir by a "little cockroach kid from South Philadelphia" offers readers an insider's view into the golden era of rock and roll and pop music and entertainment. (Aug.)
Jerry Blavat
Broadcast Pioneers Banquet
Bala Golf Club, Philadelphia
November 22, 2002
http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/jerryblavat.html
He's the Geator with the Heator; the Boss with the Hot Sauce; the King of Philly Rock & Roll. He's as much a part of Philadelphia as cheese steaks, Tastykakes, soft pretzels, and the Liberty Bell. He has been entertaining the Delaware Valley for over 40 years. He's Broadcast Pioneers member Jerry Blavat.
As a dancer, radio and television disc jockey, performer, entertainer, producer, and nightclub owner, Jerry was born Gerald Joseph Blavat on July 3, 1940. He was raised in South Philadelphia and began his show business career at the age of 13 when he debuted as a dancer on the Original Bandstand hosted by Bob Horn. Two years later, at the age of 16, he became the road manager for Danny and the Juniors, a top Doo Wop group of the late fifties. At the same time, he met Sammy Davis Jr. They became life long friends and when Sammy married his third wife, Altovese Gore, Jerry was his best man. Blavat became Don Rickles' personal valet in his early years and they remain friends until this day.
In 1960, he started his own radio talk show on WCAM (AM), in Camden, New Jersey. In September of that year, the South Philadelphia Review reported that a new radio show would be broadcast live from the Venus Lounge at Broad and Reed Streets in South Philly. The paper said, "The name of the new venture is called the Jerry Blavat Show and features a South Philadelphia personality by the same name." Then on a snowy night in mid January, pulling out a stack of records, he began entertaining listeners throughout the night, and the legend of "The Geator" was born.
In the mid-sixties, reports had his audience at a half million teenagers per month. Much of Jerry's broadcasts in the early days were done on reel to reel tape. Recording the program in his garage studio, the tapes played while Blavat made personal appearances. In the mid-sixties, Jerry's broadcasts were also added for a time to the program schedule of WHAT. On that station, Blavat stated that he only made $18 a week ($1.50 per hour). Most of his audience didn't buy it, but it was true. The real money was at the hops, not on the air. However, Blavat knew he needed the airwaves to promote the appearances.
In 1965, he produced and hosted his own TV show "The Discophonic Scene" on CBS' Philadelphia outlet WCAU-TV. From 1967-70, the show aired on WFIL-TV, Channel Six and was syndicated through Triangle Publications coast-to-coast in 40 markets.
When the British Invasion came along, Jerry never became part of it. He didn't like format radio, never participated in it and has always been his own man. In 1966, Jerry said: "It had been hell during the Beatles reign, when there had been much pressure to get on the bandwagon. But I sensed that it just didn't have enough soul for my kids... So I finally gave in and played a few, and I got bombarded by phone calls saying 'Geator, what you doing, man?'"
In April of 1972 he became one of the first on-air personalities on WCAU-FM, an oldies station. He was on Sunday nights from 7 to 10 pm. He went on WFIL as a regular in the fall of 1983, hosting Sunday nights and quite often weeknights, when WFIL returned as an oldie station with Harvey Holiday as Program Director. In 1987, Blavat moved to "Philly Gold Radio," WPGR. It became "Geator Gold Radio" in April of 1992 when Blavat purchased the station.
Until this day, Jerry is seen on many local and national TV shows. He currently is involved with PBS on their Doo Wop specials working with the show's producer, T. J. Lubinsky. When the shows aired locally over WHYY-TV, Jerry Blavat was the area's host.
Broadcast Pioneers member Gerry Wilkinson, who produced "The Legends of Rock and Roll" featuring Jerry Blavat at WHYY, along with some of the WHYY-TV Doo Wop events said: "One day I stopped down at Jerry's studio while he was on the air. The broadcast still had 15 minutes to go when "Mama Geator" (Jerry's mother) showed up. That was the only time I ever saw his show ever take a back burner. He immediately went into a record (yes, he still plays those old 45's) and ran out to greet her pulling me with him. It was something special to see a 60-year-old man being that devoted to his mom. He's a good guy. He worshipped his mom. To me that was a good trait to see in my friend." His mother passed away in December of 2001.
May 2011
Throughout his career, Jerry has appeared on "The Tonight Show," "The Mike Douglas Show," "The Joey Bishop Show," "The Mod Squad," and "The Monkees." Jerry Blavat has appeared in feature films including "Desperately Seeking Susan," "Baby, It's You," and "Cookie."
After WPGR, the Geator then built studios in Center City and currently broadcasts over five different radio stations throughout the Tri-State area as the Geator Gold Radio Network.
In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April of 1998 and was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia's "Hall of Fame" on Friday, November 22, 2002. On Monday, May 1, 2000 Jerry was interviewed by Broadcast Pioneers member Ed Sciaky on our webcast, PIONEERS IN BROADCASTING. You can view it in our video section.
He still owns his own nightclub called "Memories" in Margate, which has celebrated its 30th Anniversary a few years ago. Besides broadcasting five days a week, he works at various clubs most nights. While many refer to James Brown as "the hardest working man in show business," the title should belong to Jerry Blavat.
Jerry Blavat's pages on this website are some of our most popular ones. We are always getting e-mails from people wanting us to put them in touch with whomever sells VHS/DVD copies of the old Blavat TV vehicles. Unfortunately, none of this material exists today. Many of the shows were live and never recorded. Others that were on tape, were broadcast and the tapes re-used. Remember that only television stations used videotape and the cost of a half-hour of tape was almost $500 (in 1965 dollars). They were re-cycled and used over and over.
Do you have audio recordings of any of Jerry Blavat's TV shows? If so, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia would love to have a donated copy for our archives. Have recordings of Jerry's radio broadcasts before 1990 (especially WHAT shows and early WCAM programs)? Again, we would love to receive a donated copy.
Jerry Blavat said many years ago: "I may not be the best jock in the world, but I've got my own built-in excitement meter." Like the Geator says: "Keep on rockin' 'cause you only rock once."
From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
Written, compiled and researched by Broadcast Pioneers member Gerry Wilkinson
Top photo by Broadcast Pioneers member Gerry Wilkinson
Bottom photo by Barbara Farley-Stone, wife of member Frank Stone
He's the Geator with the Heator; the Boss with the Hot Sauce; the King of Philly Rock & Roll. He's as much a part of Philadelphia as cheese steaks, Tastykakes, soft pretzels, and the Liberty Bell. He has been entertaining the Delaware Valley for over 40 years. He's Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT's Jerry Blavat.
http://www.wvlt.com/blavat.html
As a dancer, radio and television disc jockey, performer, entertainer, producer, and nightclub owner, Jerry was born Gerald Joseph Blavat on July 3, 1940. He was raised in South Philadelphia and began his show business career at the age of 13 when he debuted as a dancer on the Original Bandstand hosted by Bob Horn. Two years later, at the age of 16, he became the road manager for Danny and the Juniors, a top Doo Wop group of the late fifties. Danny & the Juniors is just one of many groups that you can listen to here on Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT. At the same time, he met Sammy Davis Jr. They became life long friends and when Sammy married his third wife, Altovese Gore, Jerry was his best man. Blavat became Don Rickles' personal valet in his early years and they remain friends until this day.
In 1960, he started his own radio talk show on WCAM (AM), in Camden, New Jersey. (He won the show in a crap game). In September of that year, the South Philadelphia Reviewreported that a new radio show would be broadcast live from the Venus Lounge at Broad and Reed Streets in South Philly. The paper said, "The name of the new venture is called the Jerry Blavat Show and features a South Philadelphia personality by the same name." Then on a snowy night in mid January, pulling out a stack of records, he began entertaining listeners throughout the night, and the legend of "The Geator" was born.
In the mid-sixties, reports had his audience at a half million teenagers per month. Much of Jerry's broadcasts in the early days were done on reel to reel tape. Recording the program in his garage studio, the tapes played while Blavat made personal appearances. In the mid-sixties, Jerry's broadcasts were also added for a time to the program schedule of WHAT. On that station, Blavat stated that he only made $18 a week ($1.50 per hour). Most of his audience didn't buy it, but it was true. The real money was at the hops, not on the air. However, Blavat knew he needed the airwaves to promote the appearances.
In 1965, he produced and hosted his own TV show "The Discophonic Scene" on CBS' Philadelphia outlet WCAU-TV. From 1967-70, the show aired on WFIL-TV, Channel Six and was syndicated through Triangle Publications coast-to-coast in 40 markets.
When the British Invasion came along, Jerry never became part of it. He didn't like format radio, never participated in it and has always been his own man. In 1966, Jerry said: "It had been hell during the Beatles reign, when there had been much pressure to get on the bandwagon. But I sensed that it just didn't have enough soul for my kids... So I finally gave in and played a few, and I got bombarded by phone calls saying 'Geator, what you doing, man?'"
In April of 1972 he became one of the first on-air personalities on WCAU-FM, an oldies station. He was on Sunday nights from 7 to 10 pm. He went on WFIL as a regular in the fall of 1983, hosting Sunday nights and quite often weeknights, when WFIL returned as an oldie station with Harvey Holiday as Program Director. In 1987, Blavat moved to "Philly Gold Radio," WPGR. It became "Geator Gold Radio" in April of 1992 when Blavat purchased the station.
Until this day, Jerry is seen on many local and national TV shows. He currently is involved with PBS on their Doo Wop specials working with the show's producer, T. J. Lubinsky. When the shows aired locally over WHYY-TV, Jerry Blavat was the area's host.
Broadcast Pioneers Vice-President Gerry Wilkinson (a consultant for WVLT), who produced "The Legends of Rock and Roll" featuring Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT's Jerry Blavat at Channel 12, along with some of the WHYY-TV Doo Wop events said: "One day I stopped down at Jerry's studio while he was on the air. The broadcast still had 15 minutes to go when "Mama Geator" (Jerry's mother) showed up. That was the only time I ever saw his show ever take a back burner. He immediately went into a record (yes, he still plays those old 45's) and ran out to greet her pulling me with him. It was something special to see a 60-year-old man being that devoted to his mom. He's a good guy. He worshipped his mom. To me that was a good trait to see in my friend." His mother passed away in December of 2001.
Throughout his career, Jerry has appeared on "The Tonight Show," "The Mike Douglas Show," "The Joey Bishop Show," "The Mod Squad," and "The Monkees." Jerry Blavat has appeared in feature films including "Desperately Seeking Susan," "Baby, It's You," and "Cookie."
After WPGR, the Geator then built studios in Center City (rebuilt in the Fall of 2002) and currently broadcasts his Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT daily show from that location. On Thursdays, our own Jerry Blavat originates live from the Trump in Atlantic City exclusively only on your favorite station, Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT, South Jersey's #1 Oldies Powerhouse!
In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April of 1998 and was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia's "Hall of Fame" on Friday, November 22, 2002. On Monday, May 1, 2000 Jerry was interviewed on the Broadcast Pioneers' webcast, PIONEERS IN BROADCASTING. You can view it in the Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT video section of this website, WVLT.com!
He still owns his own nightclub called Memories in Margate, which has celebrated its 30th Anniversary. Besides broadcasting five days a week, he works at various clubs most nights. While many refer to James Brown as "the hardest working man in show business," the title should belong to Jerry Blavat, who said many years ago: "I may not be the best jock in the world, but I've got my own built-in excitement meter."
Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT is proud to present Jerry Blavat to the people of the Delaware Valley daily from 5 pm to 7 pm. He's a legend and Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT has him. We have the legends. Like the Geator says: "Keep on rockin' 'cause you only rock once."
CRUISIN' 92.1 - WVLT
IN PERSON; His Patter and Platters Still Rock the Shore
By ROBERT STRAUSS
Published: August 19, 2001
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/19/nyregion/in-person-his-patter-and-platters-still-rock-the-shore.html
GO, Baby! Go, Baby! Go, Baby! Go!''
The crowd at La Costa Cocktail Lounge is going-baby like it is 1965, when Jerry Blavat, the Geator with the Heator, the Boss with the Hot Sauce first played ''Can't Help Myself,'' by the Four Tops.
Though it is 36 years later and teenage denim and litheness may have given way to late-middle-age gray and arthritic joints, there are still multitudes dancing to Mr. Blavat's patter and platters every weekend of the summer at the Jersey Shore.
''They used to be my Yon Teenagers,'' said Mr. Blavat, who started his own career as a 13-year-old dancer on ''American Bandstand.'' ''Now they are Beyond Teenagers.'' Mr. Blavat has been a record promoter, radio personality, road manager and movie and television performer. But mostly, he's been the Geator, a popular D.J. from Philadelphia to the shore for four decades.
''I've known him for 40 years, since I was one of those Yon Teens,'' said Robert Brady, a Democratic Congressman from Philadelphia. ''He's been a friend of all the teens, and now all of us who like the oldies. He never has a down night. He's made a lot of people happy.''
In the summers, most of those people are down the shore, as Philadelphians put it, often following him night after night. On Thursdays at 5 p.m., he is does a two-hour stint at Resorts International casino hotel in Atlantic City. By 9 p.m., he is 30 miles down the Garden State Parkway at Lighthouse Pointe, a club in Wildwood, where he doesn't stop spinning records until 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, he is at his own club, Memories, in Margate, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. He wraps up the weekend Sundays from 4 to 8 p.m. here at La Costa. Then it's back to Philadelphia where every weekday from 5 to 7 p.m., and sometimes from 2 to 4 p.m. as well, he does his syndicated radio show on the Geator Gold Radio Network, a half-dozen stations from Vineland to Ocean City to the Philadelphia suburbs.
''I don't know about slowing down,'' said Mr. Blavat, clad in his Sunday D.J. best -- a white Ralph Lauren polo shirt, khaki shorts, dusty New Balance sneakers and an un-logoed baseball cap. He is short and thin and taut-faced, looking much younger than his professed 61.
JERRY BLAVAT
Inducted 1993
Philadelphia radio listeners know him as "The Geator with the Heater" and "The Boss with the Hot Sauce." His mile-a-minute patter still reverberates in the countless dance halls and the radio and TV air waves where he's played the hits for "Yon Teens" everywhere.
Jerry Blavat, a South Philadelphia native, began his show biz career as a dancer on the original Bandstand. At age 16, he became the road manager for Danny and the Juniors. Then, in 1959, Blavat embarked on a career in radio, at WCAM in Camden. Over the years, he's complemented his illustrious radio career with numerous TV projects, including The Discophonic Scene in 1965, which featured live musical performances by some of the biggest stars of the day.
That success led to numerous network television appearances including The Mod Squad (with lifelong friend Sammy Davis, Jr.), The Monkees (where, playing himself, he fell for Davy Jones who was dressed as a girl in order to qualify the band for a mixed-group talent contest), The Tonight Show and The Joey Bishop Show. He's also been seen in several movies such as "Desperately Seeking Susan", "Baby It's You" and "Cookie."
Blavat continues to spin gold and wax nostalgic with shows on several Philadelphia area radio stations and at many club appearances.
Who is Jerry Blavat.... and What is The Geator With The Heator?
http://web.archive.org/web/20080329015535/http://www.mystreamingserver.com/geatorgold/htmldossier.html
Many disc jockeys over the years have claimed a love for the music they play. A few of them have meant it. A fewer still have put their money where their mouths were. And of those, only one (to our knowledge) has been wildly successful in the process: Jerry Blavat.
When rock and roll began to emerge in the early '50s, and with it a rise in the popularity of the rhythm and blues records which led to its sound, radio personalities were successful because of their ears. They had the freedom to pick the music they played and their fans flocked to them because of their knowledge and taste. By the '60s, for a variety of reasons from the payola scandal to a desire for a more uniform sounding station, the radio personality truly became a disc-jockey-- playing songs from an approved list. The disc-jockey's personality came through between the records, not because of them. The 70s brought an approved order of approved songs which were selected largely through research --and liner cards. Liners were pre-written phrases to be parroted directly by the on air host. In other words, most disc jockeys were not only being told what to play, but what to say. But many were being handsomely compensated in the process.
Jerry Blavat took a different route. He was attracted to the business because of his love for the music and it was a relationship he wasn't willing to sever. His first exposure to "fame" came as a dancer on the original Bandstand television program, hosted by Bob Horn. In 1953, less than a year after the show's inception, a 13 year old Jerry Blavat perfected his first scam-- impersonating a 14 year old to get on the program. He became a favorite with the viewers and rose to the head of the coveted "Committee", the group of teens responsible for aiding Horn in the direction of the show. When Bob Horn was fired over very questionable circumstances a few years later, the rest of the teens welcomed new host Dick Clark. Belying his youth, Blavat displayed an early sense of the loyalty that would become his most prized character trait and left the program rather than tacitly approving Horn's ousting. (The two remained close until Horn's passing in Houston in 1966.)
By the time he graduated from high school in 1958, Jerry Blavat was hooked not only on the music, but on performing as well. And he was working on a healthy resume to prove it. Promoting records (for Cameo-Parkway), working with performers (serving as Don Rickles' valet), and traveling with top recording stars (as road manager for Danny & The Juniors) gave him a front row seat for the roots of rock and roll. Living as a "roadie," Blavat amassed a wealth of knowledge and a bank account of contacts. Artists like Jerry Butler, Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Gladys Knight and many more became friends and confidantes. The stories they told coupled with the first hand experiences he had, unwittingly prepared Blavat for a career move he never knew he'd make.
Jerry got into radio in 1962, the result of a bet. Given the state of radio today, some might believe he was on the losing end of that wager. But what actually happened was Jerry, full of bravado, bet that he could do a radio show from a nightclub. It wasn't whether it would be technically possible, rather whether Blavat would be able to convince a radio station to go along with it, that the owner of the Venus Lounge bet against. He didn't know Jerry, who promptly went to WCAM in Camden, New Jersey and purchased an hour of radio time (reimbursing himself in part from the proceeds of the bet, no doubt). For most people, an ensuing "act of God" would have ended this story. But for Jerry it was simply a fortuitous beginning.
Since Jerry acquired the radio time, he was allowed to resell commercials within it, which he promptly did. He had this all figured out. And for a while it worked just like he thought it would. What he hadn't counted on was the snowstorm. The one that closed the nightclub. And the city. But nothing could close Jerry. He had sold the time and he was going to air those commercials. (Loyalty may be the trait Jerry prizes most in himself, but onlookers will attest that tenacity by far is the key to his staying power. Nothing will stop this guy. And everything has tried.) So doing the only unreasonable thing, Jerry ignored the 'stay off the road' warnings and made it to WCAM's studios where he, his records (the ones he used to dance to on bandstand, the ones he promoted on Cameo-Parkway, and the ones he just plain liked that no one had ever heard-- the flops and flipsides) and his commercial announcements, set up shop.
If you want to light a radio audience on fire, there is no better propellant that a blizzard. When snow immobilizes a city, kids tune in to find out if schools are closed, adults listen to hear if they've got to report to work, and everyone stays glued to the disc jockey's every word, in part because there's nothing else to do when you're housebound. The only way Jerry Blavat could have had a more captive audience would have been to broadcast to prisons. Captive or not, what they heard was captivating. They'd never heard anything like it. And they'd never heard so much of it. The storm that immobilized the listeners also immobilized Jerry's replacements, so his one hour of evening radio time turned into all night. He continued his frenetic pace until the morning guy showed up at 6 a.m. Listeners didn't know which was better-- his patter or his platters-- but they did know the number of the station and they called.
Just as an exhausted Jerry was ready to fall asleep, the general manager of WCAM phoned and wanted to know what the hell he did. (Usually when this kind of a call comes, it's the end of your career, not the beginning.) After finding out, the GM informed a bemused Jerry that he was a smash. Blavat's club gig turned into a radio gig, and Jerry turned into "The Geator With The Heator".
Just exactly what that meant has been the subject of much discussion. Even long time fans aren't precisely sure. But there is logic behind the seemingly illogical but appropriately rhyming handle (every jock with soul spoke in rhymed couplets back then-- today the records rap... back then the rap came from the disc jockey between the records which contained something now nostalgic-- a melody).
Geator came from alligator-- gator, or geator, depending on your Florida accent. To hear Jerry tell it, 'a geator would lay in the mud and bother no one unless you came close. Then it would snatch you up.' That's how it was with Blavat. Once you dialed by 1310 and caught his act, he snatched you up like an alligator. He was hot, almost too hot. Like a car heater in the dead of winter, he started out warming you but quickly heated you up to the point that you broke out in a sweat. Some felt it was what he said, others claimed it was the way he said it, but for most it was the music, that mesmerizing sound they weren't hearing on the popular stations.
...But make no mistake about it, while Jerry Blavat may well be the best known disc jockey in Philadelphia, he's never worked on a highly rated station. His chosen approach of buying the time outright (and later in his career, an entire station), allows him to remain free to program the sound as he sees fit, answering to no one but his audience. Fortunately, Blavat has a business sense. Because the only way this approach can be viable in the long term is by knowing how to market the airtime-- and yourself. Jerry is a master at both.
The Geator coupled his growing popularity on the air (which by 1963 resulted in regional syndication of his program on small stations throughout the Delaware Valley from Atlantic City to Allentown) with appearances off the air at dances, clubs and events. It was not unusual for Blavat to see 5,000 kids a week in person in the mid '60s, nor too much of a stretch to say he'd remember 3,000 of their names the following week. His appearances became so frequent that for a time he needed to use a helicopter just to make it on time from one gig to the next. (Today the helicopter is gone, but the frantic schedule is still in place. Throughout the year, he can be found somewhere on virtually any night, and in the summer months he's in weekend residence at Memories At Margate, the New Jersey Shore's hottest night spot which he's owned and operated since 1972.)
But Blavat's entrepreneurial spirit didn't stop there. He formed record labels (most notably Lost Nite which issued countless oldies compilation albums treasured by collectors to this day, but also Crimson which had the Soul Survivors'; "Expressway To Your Heart"), opened record stores (the Record Museum chain was his), and arguably began the "oldies" format. A number of people claim that distinction, but to our recollection, no one else in 1962 was playing the music of rock and roll's past. And for top 40 music in the early '60s, there wasn't all that much of a past-- if you were relying on hits, that is. Jerry was relying on a sound. Even before the term was widely used, Blavat and oldies became synonymous to his audience. Then, and to this day, he lived by the phrase, 'where we don't only play the oldies, we create them'. The year didn't matter, the artist didn't matter, the label didn't matter, A side, B side, anything on vinyl qualified if it had the sound. (If we have to describe that sound, you're at the wrong site.)
In 1965 Jerry made a quantum career leap, combining his on air demeanor with his in person style by launching The Discophonic Scene, a television show which took him to a new level of mass appeal respectability. Unlike his radio career, where his show was always the standout segment on otherwise comparatively obscure radio stations, The Discophonic Scene aired on VHF network affiliated television outlets. First on WCAU-TV 10, and later on WFIL-TV 6, the Discophonic Scene was ultimately syndicated through Triangle Publications, seen across the country every weekday in over 40 markets.
Differing from most television shows where behind the scenes the host is but a small part of the action, The Discophonic Scene was in all ways an extension of Jerry Blavat. Relying on the contacts he made earlier in his career, Blavat rose early to personally book the likes of Fats Domino, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, The Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas and many many more. Being a fan himself, the rule was live performances, not the badly mouthed lip-syncing identified with similar offerings. In front of the camera, there was also a difference-- Jerry was more like the kids than their parents. He not only resembled the "Yon Teens" as he referred to his fans, but he danced like them too. After all, it wasn't that long ago that he was in their place on Bandstand.
That success led to numerous network television appearances including The Mod Squad (with lifelong friend Sammy Davis, Jr.), The Monkees (where, playing himself, he fell for Davy Jones who was dressed as a girl in order to qualify the band for a mixed-group talent contest), The Tonight Show and The Joey Bishop Show. He's also been seen in several movies such as "Desperately Seeking Susan", "Baby It's You" and "Cookie".
But the real legacy that belongs to Jerry Blavat is the one he created on the radio. The one that endures to this day. The one where "The Geator With The Heator" jumps out of your dashboard blaring a heart stopping song that you've got to hear. The one where "The Boss With The Hot Sauce" brings back the past. In 1970, Jerry returned fulltime to his radio roots and he hasn't been off the air since --or out of the clubs. It hasn't always been an easy road, but it's the only one he'd choose to travel. As for those of us who consider ourselves fans of that special sound-- the one that takes you where you want to go-- we're just grateful to be invited along for the ride.
Rollye Jamesrollye.net
HEAR THE GEATOR -
MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 5-7 PM:
WVLT Cruisin' 92.1 FM &
http://www.wvlt.com
(click on LISTEN LIVE)
MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 7-9 PM:
WTKU KOOL 98.3 FM &
http://www.kool983.com
(click on LISTEN LIVE)
THURSDAYS, 9-11 PM (July 4 weekend thru Labor Day):
WFNE FUN 106.7 in Wildwood & N. Cape May
http://www.fun1067.com
(click on LISTEN LIVE)
SATURDAYS 6-7 PM - GEATOR'S ROCK & ROLL, RHYTHM & BLUES EXPRESS ON WXPN:
- Philly & South Jersey 88.5 FM
- Lehigh Valley 104.9 FM
- Harrisburg 88.1 FM
- Baltimore 90.5 FM
and worldwide at xpn.org (click on LISTEN LIVE!)
For archived shows:
Go to xpn.org - click on PROGRAMS, then GEATOR R&R, then LISTEN TO RECENT SHOWS
FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS Memorial Day thru Labor Day:
WTKU KOOL 98.3 FM and kool983.com LIVE FROM MEMORIES IN MARGATE Fridays starting at 8
JERRY'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY - "YOU ONLY ROCK ONCE: MY LIFE IN MUSIC"
PUBLISHED BY RUNNING PRESS JULY 2011
ISBN # 978-0-7624-4215-7
YOU ONLY ROCK ONCE: MY LIFE IN MUSIC - available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble bookstores and bn.com, Walmart.com, other websites, and many local bookstores, including:
PHILADELPHIA: Joseph Fox Booksellers and the Penn Book Center
WEST CHESTER: Chester County Book & Music Co.
WILMINGTON: Ninth Street Book Shop
REHOBOTH BEACH: Browseabout Books
AVALON, OCEAN CITY, & STONE HARBOR: Hoy's Five & Ten
For upcoming interviews, readings, and signings in your area, check the CALENDAR link at left and also the Facebook page for YOU ONLY ROCK ONCE.
Currently the book is #1 on amazon.com in the broadcasting category!
Next book signings:
FRIDAY, NOV. 18, 8 pm at CAFE MADISON in Riverside, NJ
TUESDAY, DEC. 6, 6 pm at BLACK TIE FORMAL WEAR, 1120 Walnut St in Philadelphia (before JERSEY BOYS performance @ Forrest Theater)
NOTE: Books will be available for purchase at all book signings.
WATCH THIS SPOT FOR UPDATES AND ADDITIONS --
also, click on "LIKE" the Facebook page YOU ONLY ROCK ONCE: MY LIFE IN MUSIC –
and join the online Geator Fans group on Yahoo --
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GeatorFans
NEXT KIMMEL CENTER CONCERT: Saturday, Januray 28, 8 pm kimmelcenter.org
Jerry returns from the Malt Shop Memories cruise on Monday and will be at SugarHouse on Wednesday and the Buck Hotel Thursday . . .
Please join him at the following fundraising events:
SUN NOV 27: HARRAH'S, BRIGANTINE - ANIMAL RESCUE BENEFIT
(click CALENDAR OF APPEARANCES at left for locations & details)
REGULAR WEEKLY APPEARANCES - LABOR DAY THROUGH MAY:
WEDNESDAYS 5-7 pm - SUGARHOUSE CASINO, 1001 N. Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123 - broadcast live on WVLT Cruisin' 92.1 FM and wvlt.com. For more info: sugarhousecasino.com or 877.477.3715
THURSDAYS, 8 pm - BUCK HOTEL, 1200 Buck Road, Feasterville, PA, 215/396-2002, thebuckhotel.com
REGULAR WEEKLY APPEARANCES - MEMORIAL DAY THRU LABOR DAY
WEDNESDAYS 5-7 pm - SUGARHOUSE CASINO, 1001 N. Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123 - broadcast live on WVLT Cruisin' 92.1 FM and wvlt.com. For more info@sugarhousecasino.com or 877.477.3715
THURSDAYS 8 pm (starting the Thursday before July 4 weekend) - LIGHTHOUSE POINTE, 5100 Shawcrest Rd, Wildwood Crest, 609/522-SHIP - live on WFNE Fun 106.7 FM and fun1067.com
FRIDAYS, 5-7 pm (mid-May thru Labor Day weekendt) - CHICKIE'S & PETE'S, 6055 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, NJ, 609/272-1930 - live on WVLT Cruisin' 92.1 and wvlt.com
FRIDAYS 8-11 pm MEMORIES IN MARGATE, Madisot & Amherst Ave., 609.823.2196 - with FREE FOOD BUFFET from Barrels and Chickie's & Pete's. Jerry is followed at 11 pm by Joey Marini's Back in the Day dance party at Memories - all live on WTKU KOOL 98.3 and kool983.com.
SATURDAYS 9 pm to 4 am MEMORIES IN MARGATE, broadcast live on WTKU KOOL 98.3 FM and kool983.com till 2 am
SUNDAYS 4-7:30 pm - afternoon jam sessions at LA COSTA LOUNGE, 4000 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City, 609.263.3756
For Jerry's complete schedule of personal appearances, click CALENDAR link at left. Once you're in the calendar, click on any event for more info about it, including location, how to get tickets, directions (click on MAP next to event's location), and more.
IMPORTANT: If you have a QUESTION about an item on the CALENDAR, you will get a faster answer if you post it in the Geator Fans group rather than in the calendar notes. To join Geator Fans, click on this link:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GeatorFans/
and then click JOIN THIS GROUP. The Geator Fans group is very active and you will almost always receive a prompt answer to your question there.
JOIN THE GEATOR ON-LINE FAN CLUB AND MESSAGE BOARD AT
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GeatorFans
LINKS & MORE:
The easy-to-remember link for this website is always geator.net
Join Yahoo's online Geator Fan Club & discussion group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GeatorFans/
Look for Geator's columns -- "ASK THE GEATOR" in the Atlantic City Weekly (acweekly.com - click on 'News & Views,' then 'Ask the Geator')
Want to learn the dance steps? See link at left on this page for tips (sorry, no instructions on line yet)
Check out Bill Smith's Geator tribute at thegeator.com (not up to date but chock full of Geator history & info)
Hear Jerry as Al Bacore, the Tuneful Tuna, narrator of SpongeBob SquarePants' fabulous CD "The Best Day Ever" !!
Check out the brand new Facebook page for Jerry's autobiography, "You Only Rock Once: My Life In Music" - go to Facebook, search for YOU ONLY ROCK ONCE, and click on "LIKE"
and keep on rockin' -- 'cause you only rock once!
For info not listed here, send an email to geatorella@yahoo.com
To buy rare & out of print vinyl recordings, contact:
Jim at Forever Records, Rt 13 South, Levittown Shopping Center, Levittown, PA,215-945-9423 OR
Val Shively's R&B Records,49 Garrett Road, Upper Darby, PA 19082,610/352-2320 Fax: (610) 352-8199 OR Bobby at Pat's Music, 4516 Frankford Ave, Philly, 215/708-0444
Jerry Blavat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jerry Blavat
Birth name Gerald Joseph Blavat
Born July 3, 1940 (age 71)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,United States
Show Geator Gold Radio
Station(s) WVLT (FM), WTKU (FM), andWXPN
Style Oldies
Country United States
Website Official website
http://geatorgigs.webs.com/index.htm
Jerry Blavat (born July 3, 1940), also known as "The Geator with The Heator", is an Americandisc jockey who is known for promoting oldies music on the radio in the Philadelphia area. Blavat was born in South Philadelphia to a Jewish father and Italian mother.
Career
In 1953, Blavat debuted on the original Bandstand on WFIL-TV with Bob Horn and Lee Stewart. In 1956 he managed a national tour for Danny and the Juniors, and he worked as Don Rickles' valet in 1958-59. He got his start in radio in 1960. By 1963, his show was syndicated in Camden, Atlantic City, Trenton, Pottstown, Wilmingtonand Allentown. During the 1960s, Blavat was a partner in the Lost Nite and Crimson record labels, along with Jared Weinstein and Collectables Records' founder Jerry Greene. Together, the three also owned Record Museum, a now-defunct chain of record stores based in Philadelphia.
From 1965-1967, Blavat produced and hosted a weekly television show called The Discophonic Scene. He also guest-starred on television shows including The Mod Squad, The Monkees, The Tonight Show and The Joey Bishop Show. He has also appeared in the moviesDesperately Seeking Susan, Baby It's You and Cookie.In the early 1970s, Blavat purchased a nightclub in Margate, New Jersey, and named it "Memories."
Mafia connections
In 1981, Blavat was having dinner at a South Philadelphia restaurant with Greek mob boss Chelsais "Steve" Bouras and several other guests when Bouras was shot dead in a contract killing.
In the early 1990s, an investigation by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation into organized crime's influence in the liquor business made public Blavat's association with the Bruno-Scarfo crime family. During the investigation, Thomas A. DelGiorno, a former Scarfo crime family Capo, testified that Blavat had regularly paid a "street tax" to the crime family, had purchased a $40,000 yacht for crime boss Nicodemo Scarfo and was one of several individuals who purchased a condominium in Florida for Scarfo. In exchange, the criminal organization secured employment for Blavat throughout the state and also kept union organizers out of Blavat's nightclub. Del Giorno also testified that Blavat regularly served as a driver for crime boss Angelo Bruno. Blavat pled the fifth.
Recent activity
In 1993, Blavat was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance's Hall of Fame.[6] In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fameas part of a permanent exhibit in its Museum of Radio and Records. In 2002, he was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia's "Hall of Fame." In 2011, Blavat is a DJ for oldies radio station WVLT FM 92.1 in the South Jersey area, for the University of Pennsylvania's public radio station WXPN in Philadelphia, and for radio station WTKU 98.3 FM in Atlantic City. He owns the nightclub "Memories in Margate". Blavat is a regular columnist for the Atlantic City Weekly.
On July 23, 2011, Blavat's autobiography, "You Only Rock Once: My Life In Music," was published by Running Press.
References
"Lost Nite Album Discography". Archived from the original on 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
"Jerry Blavat - Dossier". Archived from the original on 2008-03-29. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
"CRUISIN' 92.1, WVLT - Jerry Blavat Bio". Retrieved 2008-06-22.
Strauss, Robert (August 19, 2001). "IN PERSON; His Patter and Platters Still Rock the Shore". New York Times.
Sullivan, Joseph F. (January 19, 1992). "Mob Sway Over Bars Called Strong". New York Times.
"Philadelphia Music Alliance Hall of Fame Bio". Retrieved 2008-06-22.
