Jerry Blavat is a legend in Philly. Known as the Geator with the Heator, and the Boss with the Hot Sauce, he's a popular and influential DJ and a familiar name in my household. Needless to say, I was excited to get a copy of his new book through the Amazon Vine Program.
His autobiography is as rocking, raunchy, and real as the Geator himself. Along with his family background, he provides an insider look at rock and roll history in Philly and he drops plenty of names along the way: Dick Clark, Berry Gordy, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, and Philadelphia Mafia boss Angelo Bruno, to name a few. Be forewarned, there’s also quite a bit about the Geator’s sexual exploits. But he also talks about his love and respect for wife Pattie. They’ve been married for fifty years but separated nearly thirty.
Reading his book was a real stroll down memory lane for me. Any one who grew up in Philadelphia or followed the Philly music scene will love You Only Rock Once. I know I did. Highly recommended.
Amazon Product Description
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.
About the Author
Jerry 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 geator.net.
Available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/You-Only-Rock-Once-Music/dp/0762442158/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317837767&sr=1-1
2 comments:
wow i grew up with the bandstand era and remember the music very well
That was a great time. I went to Bandstand, Jerry's dances too - the good old days.
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