Jerry Blavat Returns to Perform his First Ever Kimmel Christmas Show, A Very Geator Christmas
December 5, 2005
The Geator with the Heater
Philadelphia’s best-known disc jockey, ‘The Geator with the Heater’ Jerry Blavat , returns to the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall for his first ever Kimmel Christmas show, A Very Geator Christmas, on Thursday, December 22 at 8pm. The appearance is Blavat’s eleventh at the Kimmel Center, more than any other performer since the venue opened. Philadelphia’s own “rock ‘n’ roll soul historian” will welcome special guests including 1960’s pop-legends Al Martino (“Spanish Eyes and “Can’t Help Falling in Love”), Johnny Maestro (“Tear Drops Follow Me”) and Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners (“Since I Don’t Have You”) who will perform their classic hits and holiday favorites for audiences of all ages.
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Jerry Blavat’s A Very Geator Christmas is the twelfth performance in the Sovereign Bank World Pop Mix series. Remaining World Pop Mix performances include: The Black Watch on Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 3pm; Paco Peña Flamenco Ensemble on Sunday, January 29, 2006 at 3pm; Sylvia McNair on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 3pm; and Ladysmith Black Mambazo with Vusi Mahlasela on Sunday, February 19, 2006 at 3pm.
Tickets for Jerry Blavat’s A Very Geator Christmas are priced at $37, $51, $61, $71 and $81. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings (additional fees may apply). For group sales call 215-893-5883.
A Philadelphia native and dancer on the original Bandstand television program, Jerry Blavat was attracted to the business because of his love for music, and hasn’t severed that relationship since. After first making it onto the airwaves in 1962, Blavat followed up his radio success by forming record labels, opening record stores, and launching The Discophonic Scene, a television show in 1965. His onscreen popularity led to numerous television appearances on shows like The Monkees and The Tonight Show, but Blavat returned to the radio full-time in 1970 and hasn’t been off the air since.
For more than four decades, Philadelphia native Al Martino has continued to serenade the public in his own inimitable style. Memorable hits such as “Can’t Help Falling in Love” “Here in My Heart,” “Volare,” “Spanish Eyes,” “Living in a Lie,” “Tears and Roses” and “I Love You More and More Every Day” have garnered this celebrated artist numerous honors and awards. Since 1993, Martino’s songs have flooded the radio and television airwaves in Germany marking the revival of his career and most recent CD release “Great Gentelman of Song…Al Martino.” He has also proven himself as a film actor. In 1972, he played Johnny Fontane in Frances Ford Coppola’s epic film The Godfather. He also sang the film’s title song, “The Love Theme from The Godfather.”
Johnny Maestro began his music career with the Manhattan based group the Crests. After disbanding, he joined the Del-Satins who had several record releases including the hit “Teardrops Follow Me.” While working the local club scene, the Del-Satins merged with Rhythm Method to create The Brooklyn Bridge. Johnny Maestro’s performance of “The Worst that could Happen” backed by The Brooklyn Bridge’s powerful vocals and horn arrangements led to a gold record. By 1972, Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge sold over 10 million records. The successes of their Christmas EP’s led them to prestigious stages across America.
Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners created a new style of music by combining the street-wise harmonies of rhythm and blues groups like The Moonglows and The Flamingos with the modern harmonies of groups such as The Four Freshman and The Hi Los. The Pittsburgh-based ensemble formed in 1958 when Beaumont, Wally Lester and Jack Taylor combined with Joe Versharen and Janet Vogel from The El Rios. They are most noted for the quintessential fifties ballad, “Since I Don’t Have You.” In recent years, The Skyliners created two American holiday favorites, “You’re My Christmas Present” and “Another Lonely New Year’s Eve.”
Tickets for Jerry Blavat’s A Very Geator Christmas are priced at $37, $51, $61, $71 and $81. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings (additional fees may apply). For group sales call 215-893-5883.
A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased 2.5 hours prior to evening performances and 11:30am for matinees. Sponsors of the 2005/2006 Kimmel Center Presents season include Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Sovereign Bank, The American Express Company, and Verizon Foundation. Special Student Matinees at the Kimmel Center are generously supported by Merck & Co., Inc. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Jazz and World Pop programming. In-kind support is generously provided by Deloitte and Southern Wine and Spirit. NBC-10 is a Media Partner for Kimmel Center Presents.
KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS
Sovereign Bank World Pop Mix Series
Thursday, December 22, 2005 | 8pm
Verizon Hall
A Very Geator Christmas
Jerry Blavat, host
Al Martino
Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners
Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge
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