Philadelphia’s Legendary Radio Personality Jerry Blavat Returns to the Kimmel Center for Musical Extravaganza on January 28
January 17, 2007
Ronnie Spector
Free at the Kimmel Pre- and Post-Show Dance Parties with DJ Mark the Spark Will Take Place at the Commonwealth Plaza
Since 1961, The Geator with the Heater has been blasting local and national airwaves with dance hits from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Now Philadelphia’s legendary radio personality Jerry Blavat returns to the Kimmel Center for a Musical Extravaganza featuring Ronnie Spector and Special Guests in Verizon Hall on Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 7:30pm. Blavat holds no bar as he spins doo-wop, a capella, and Motown sounds from the Geator Gold Vault. A cultural icon of Philadelphia, Blavat has been winning over generations of Philadelphians with his electrifying on-air personality, and encyclopedic knowledge of music, writers and performers. Ronnie Spector, 2007 Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, will be joining Blavat on stage for the first time since 1966, along with Tavares, The Trammps, Kenny Vance and the Planotones, Blue Magic, and Kid Kyle & the Kool Kats.
Free at the Kimmel Pre- and Post-show dance parties with DJ Mark the Spark will take place in the Commonwealth Plaza at 6pm, live on the Geator Gold radio, and after the 7:30pm Musical Extravaganza.
This performance is the 10th in the Verizon World Pop Mix series. Upcoming concerts include the Soweto Gospel Choir on Sunday February 25, 2007 and Chava Alberstein and David Broza on Thursday March 1, 2007.
Tickets for Jerry Blavat’s Musical Extravaganza featuring Ronnie Spector and Special Guests on Saturday January 28, 2007 are priced at $81, $71, $56, $46, $41 and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the 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 made possible by the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning 2.5 hours prior to curtain time and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one ticket per person.
Now in his 45th year on the radio, South Philadelphia bred "Boss with the Hot Sauce" and "Geator with the Heater" 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. He has entertained audiences since the age of 13, made his first television appearances dancing on the original Bandstand, and later served as a road manager. Beginning in March 1965, Blavat produced and hosted the Discophonic Scene on WCAU-TV channel 10. All performances were live, including the Supremes’ only Philadelphia television appearance. In 1967, WIFL-TV channel 6 offered the Geator a daily show called Jerry’s Place, which aired five days per week and before long the ABC affiliate, owned by Walter Annenberg’s Triangle Productions, syndicated the show coast-to-coast in 42 markets.
The Geator has made appearances on The Tonight Show, the Joey Bishop Show, The Mod Squad, and The Monkees. He has also appeared in films such as Desperately Seeking Susan, Baby It’s You, and Cookie. In 1992 Jerry began hosting On the Air With the Geator, which ran locally on Philly-57 TV, and nationally on the Nostalgia Channel, as well as in syndication. In 1997 the Boss with the Hot Sauce began syndication with Backstage with Jerry Blavat. In 1998 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since then he has appeared on the PBS fundraising event DooWop 50 and DooWop 51.
Ronnie Spector cut unforgettable pop classics as the lead singer of girl group, The Ronettes. "Be My Baby," "Baby I Love," and Grammy® Award-winning "Walking in the Rain" have become canonized in rock and roll history, with additional Ronnette recordings featured in films such as Dirty Dancing, Quadrophenia, Goodfellas, and Nine Months.
Tavares consists of five Bedford, Mass. brothers-Ralph, Tiny, Chubby, Butch and Pooch- who became one of the Soul Music supergroups of the ‘70s and early ‘80s with R&B soaring singles like "Check It Out," and "In The City."
The Trammps began in Philadelphia in 1972, and became one of Atlantic Records hottest Disco recording acts with 1977 mega-hit "Disco Inferno" part of Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, which won the Trammps a Grammy Award in 1979.
Kenny Vance and The Planotones are among today’s great vocal pop musicians who redefine oldies with vocal authority and freshness, including "Looking for an Echo."
Philadelphia-based Blue Magic formed in 1972 and reached Gold status with best-selling hit singles, "Side Show" and "Spell." Known for their exquisite vocal harmonies and masterful, storytelling choreography, the group earned the Ebony Award in 1975.
Kid Kyle and His Kool Kats contains the vocal talents of 11 year-old Kyle Flandrau who can bring back the urban street corner sound of the 1950s and 60s, pre-dating his own birth by four-plus decades.
Kimmel Center Presents' 2006/2007 season is supported by: Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health System, National Endowment for the Arts, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, ARC Wheeler, The William Penn Foundation, The Wachovia Foundation,Verizon Foundation, The Presser Foundation, Philadelphia Music Project and Dance Advance, Initiatives of The Pew Charitable Trust administered by The University of the Arts. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Jazz and World Pop programming. NBC-10 is a Media Partner for Kimmel Center Presents. The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com are media sponsors for the Great Orchestras on Tour series.
KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS
January 28, 2007 | 7:30pm
Verizon Hall
A Jerry Blavat Musical Extravaganza
Jerry Blavat
Featuring
Ronnie Spector
With Special Guests
Tavares
The Trammps
Blue Magic
Kenny Vance & the Planotones
Kid Kyle & the Kool Kats
********
FREE AT THE KIMMEL EVENTS
Sunday, January 28, 2007 | 6pm and post-show
Commonwealth Plaza
Geator Dance Parties with DJ Mark the Spark
Dance the night away before and after the ticketed Jerry Blavat concert in Verizon Hall.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 | 6pm
Commonwealth Plaza
Grande Winds
Temple students Maureen Ong (flute), Erin Svoboda (clarinet), and Natalya Rose Vrbsky (bassoon) will perform a medley of woodwind sounds.
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