Jerry Blavat, Philadelphia's 'Geator With The Heater,' Dies At 82

The Geator

JERRY BLAVAT, the PHILADELPHIA radio personality whose rapid-fire slang-filled patter, nicknames "THE GEATOR WITH THE HEATER" and "THE BIG BOSS WITH THE HOT SAUCE," and championing of R&B music gained him a loyal following in the market, died FRIDAY morning (1/20) in PHILADELPHIA after a battle of myasthenia gravis at 82, reports ABC O&O WPVI-TV (6ABC).

BLAVAT, a teen dancer on WFIL-TV's original, pre-DICK CLARK "BANDSTAND" in the 1950s, launched his career at WCAM-A/CAMDEN. He later hosted at WHAT-A, WCAU-F, WFIL-A, and WPGR-A (GEATOR GOLD RADIO)/PHILADELPHIA and, most recently, WVLT/VINELAND, NJ (the latter also heard on other stations in the DELAWARE VALLEY including WBCB-A/LEVITTOWN). BLAVAT also hosted his own TV dance show, "DISCOPHONIC SCENE," on then-CBS O&O WCAU-TV and, later, on ABC affiliate WFIL-TV and in syndication. He appeared on several TV shows, including "THE MONKEES" and "THE MOD SQUAD," and did cameos in films, while hosting live dance events at his own MEMORIES nightclub in MARGATE, NJ.

For over ten years, BLAVAT has been hosting "THE GEATOR'S ROCK & ROLL RHYTHM AND BLUES EXPRESS," an hour-long Oldies show on UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA Triple A WXPN/PHILADELPHIA, The station will celebrate his life and career for five hours on SATURDAY (1/21) from 2 to 7p (ET).

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