Jerry Blavat to Celebrate Great Voices of 60s in Verizon Hall on Kimmel Center's Campus, 1/25

A venerable Philadelphia institution better known as "Boss with the Hot Sauce" and "Geator with the Heater," Jerry Blavat takes a walk down memory lane celebrating the Great Voices of the '60s with Philly native once teen idol turned "one of the most sought-after nightclub acts in the U.S.," Bobby Rydell, Eddie Holman, Jay Black, "An American Original," Gary U.S. Bonds, Pat Upton of Spiral Staircase, and Jay Siegel's Tokens on Saturday, January 25 at 8 p.m. in Verizon Hall.

Tickets are available from $41 to $100 at kimmelcenter.org, 215-893-1999, or at the KimMel Center Box Office located on Broad and Spruce streets, Philadelphia, Pa. (open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., later on performance evenings).

"The Geator is as much a part of Philadelphia's history as the Liberty Bell, Mummers and the Phanatic. I grew up listening to his music and congratulate him on an incredible fifty+ years in the business and thank him for all he does to promote Philadelphia and our music scene." - Mayor Michael Nutter

A cultural icon in Philadelphia, Jerry Blavat is well-known for his electrifying on-air personality and encyclopedic knowledge of music, writers and performers. With more than 45 years of radio experience, South Philadelphia's "Boss with the Hot Sauce" Jerry Blavat was the first DJ to play hits such as "Sherry" by the Four Seasons and "Twist and Shout" by the Isley Brothers on air in the Philadelphia region. Beginning in March 1965, Blavat produced and hosted the "Discophonic Scene" on WCAU-TV 10, featuring live performances, including The Supremes' only Philadelphia television appearance. In 1967, WIFL-TV 6 offered the Geator a daily show called "Jerry's Place," which was eventually syndicated coast-to-coast in 42 markets. Blavat began hosting "On the Air with the Geator" in 1992 and "Backstage with Jerry Blavat" in 1997. In 1998 he was one of the radio greats inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Since then, Blavat has appeared on the PBS fundraising event "DooWop 50" and "DooWop 51."

Bobby Rydell was a teen idol in the '60s getting his start as a teenager alongside Frankie Avalon and the musical group, Rocco and the Saints. His debut recording Kissin' Time released in 1959 first put him on the charts...

Jay Black began his career in songwriting and producing records before recording the hit song, "She Cried" in 1962 with Jay and the Americans. Jay and the Americans then released a string of hits on the United Artists label, including "Only in America,"....

Gary U.S. Bonds debuted at age 19 as a recording artist with his first hit, "New Orleans'" for which attention was brought to its promo copies sent to radio stations with its sleeves inscribed " Buy U.S. Bonds." His follow up legendary party record, "Quarter to Three" hit No. one...

Singer and guitarist Pat Upton of the Spiral Starecase is best known for his distinctive vocals in the 1969 one-hit wonder, " More Today Than Yesterday" and "She's Ready"...

Jay Siegel's Tokens is best known for the mega hit, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," which celebrated its 50th anniversary as a seminal hit in 2011 and has continued its multi-generational popularity in more recent times through the Broadway hit, The Lion King...

One of the recording industries pioneers of romance, Eddie Holman is best known for his falsetto voice in the 1970 mega-hit, "Hey There Lonely Girl." "Hey There Lonely Girl" has gone on to become one of the theme songs in Martin Lawrence/ Tim Robbins film, Nothing to Lose...

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