Yes, Jerry Blavat is dead and not alive.
Jerry Blavat died of complications from myasthenia gravis and related health issues on January 20, 2023, at age 82 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
The American disc jockey and performer Jerry Blavat known as “The Geator with the Heater,” promoted oldies music on the radio.
Blavat debuted as a dancer on American Bandstand on WFIL-TV with Bob Horn in 1953.
He managed a national tour for Danny and the Juniors in 1956, and worked as Don Rickles’ valet from 1958 to 1959.
Blavat began his radio career in 1960 and by 1963, he was syndicated in Atlantic City, Trenton, Camden, Pottstown & Allentown Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware.
Blavat was a partner in the Crimson and Lost Nite record labels and was part owner of the Record Museum record stores.
From 1965 to 1967, Blavat produced and hosted the weekly television show The Discophonic Scene in Philadelphia.
Blavat also featured in movies such as Cookie, Miss December, and Mancation.
He bought a nightclub in Margate, New Jersey in 1972 and named it “Memories”.
Blavat’s memoir You Only Rock Once — whose title was shortened from one of his favorite sayings: “Keep on rockin’, because you only rock once!” — was published in 2011.
Blavat was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance’s Hall of Fame in 1993, he was featured in permanent exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame that opened in 1998, and he was honored on the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia’s Hall of Fame in 2002.
At the time of Blavat’s demise, he
was still heard regularly on his own Geator Gold Radio network, and on his weekly Saturday night show on WXPN-FM (88.5), The Geator’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Rhythm and Blues Express.