Philadelphia – Legendary disc jockey Jerry Bravat, known as “The Geator with the Heater” and “The Boss with the Hot Sauce,” has died, Action News has learned. he was 82 years old.
He died Friday at 3:45 a.m. in the hospice at Jefferson Methodist Hospital of myasthenia gravis and related health problems.
He leaves behind four daughters, a grandson, a great-grandson, and his longtime partner Keely Stahl.
According to his website, Bravat recently suffered medical problems related to a shoulder injury and had to cancel a show scheduled at the Kimmel Cultural Campus due to his health.
Born in South Philadelphia to a Jewish father and an Italian mother, music has been in his veins since childhood. As one of his early rock and roll DJs, “The Geator” was widely credited with revolutionizing the profession and developing the “oldies” format.
Bravat appeared in several TV shows and movies, including ‘The Monkees’, ‘Desperately Looking For Susan’, ‘Baby It’s You’ and ‘Cookies’.
In 1953, at age 13, he made his debut with the original Bandstand. A producer for a Channel 6 show in Philadelphia found the popular dancer to be under the age limit, but let him stay to help pick a record.
A few years later, he continued to host ‘Discophonic Scene’, a dance show featuring the biggest stars of the era.
Bravat’s enthusiasm, talent, and knack for knowing what hit teenagers led first to syndicated radio shows and then television shows in the 1960s.
For decades, he performed shows and entertained audiences throughout the Philadelphia area, spending summers on the beach where he owned the popular dance club Memories in Margate.
It was a career that led to many friendships with big name entertainers like Sammy Davis Jr., Don Rickles and even Frank Sinatra.
“Everybody was there. My mom cooked for[Frank]Sinatra there. She cooked for Sammy Davis Jr. there too. Chuck Berry showed up there. I did,” Bravat said of the “memories” in a 2022 interview. new jersey stage.
With his famous nicknames ‘The Geator with the Heater’ and ‘The Boss with the Hot Sauce’, he has hosted countless dances, breaking out with many acts including the Four Seasons and the Isley Brothers, and bobby Rydell. It also boosted Philadelphia artists like.
He was a regular performer at Philadelphia’s Italian-American Parade and was a guest at 6abc’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for many years.
In 1993, Bravat was inducted into the Philadelphia Musical League Hall of Fame. You can find his name on the Walk of Fame along Center City’s Boulevard of Arts.
Since 1998, he has appeared in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s permanent exhibit. He was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in Philadelphia in 2002.
When asked about his career as a disc jockey and his rise to fame, Bravat told The New Jersey Stage, Making people happy has enriched my life. ”
Bravat never stopped sharing his love for music and Philadelphia.
No matter what, that beat always pulsates in this city’s veins, with a vibrancy and enthusiasm that only a “boss with hot sauce” can spread.
—-
This story has been updated to show that Jerry Bravat was part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame permanent exhibit, but was not an inductee.
Copyright © 2023 WPVI-TV. All rights reserved.