A Word from Armond

This Saturday night I tuned into Jerry Blavit’s (The Geeter) radio show on WXPN. I always enjoy hearing the music I grew up with, but tonight it was different. Jerry was giving his history of how he started playing music on the radio and the dances he held. While listening, I realized that I witnessed and shared his history.

I heard his first music program on that snowy January night in 1960, listened to his show religiuosly, and went to his dances at the Dickson house, the Che Vous Ball Room, and others. Songs such as Puppy Love, If You Love Me and My Hero by the original Blue Notes, Moppity Mope, and WPLJ,  were the sound track of my youth, and Jerry was the pied piper. Every song tonight, ( he literally played my favorites) had a memory, a time, and a place, and as the Geeter said, it was local music that not many people outside the Philly, South Jersey area may have heard. It was our music.

I got to know Jerry, and we became friends. I was one of the lucky teenagers that was invited into his inner circle. I got to know his family and friends. He was one of the  most positive forces in so many teenager’s lives. He gave us places to go, gave us music to dance to and helped us stay out of trouble.

I remember one night after a dance, a girl was crying because her boyfriend broke up with her. The next night on the radio Jerry talked about broken hearts and played the appropriate songs. I am sure it soothed many a broken heart. That was Jerry. Philly had its One In A Million.

Every once in a while I see  Jerry, and  I am so glad to see that his smile and energy are the same as in the early years.

This magic hour of music made me realize how much I love that music, and that time; and how lucky we all were to have the Geeter in our lives.

Thank you Jerry,

Sincerely,

Armond