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Gerry Marsden

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Gerry Marsden
MBE
Marsden in 1964
Marsden in 1964
Background information
Born
Gerard Marsden

(1942-09-24)24 September 1942
Toxteth, Liverpool, England
Died3 January 2021(2021-01-03) (aged 78)
Arrowe Park, Merseyside, England
Genres
OccupationsSinger-songwriter, musician, television personality
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active1959–2020
Labels
Websitewww.gerryandthepacemakers.co.uk

Gerard Marsden MBE (24 September 1942 – 3 January 2021) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and television personality, best known for being leader of the Merseybeat band Gerry and the Pacemakers. He was the younger brother of fellow band member Freddie Marsden.

Gerry and the Pacemakers had the distinction of being the first act to have their first three recordings go to number 1 in the UK singles chart.[1] Although they never had a number 1 in the US, they were the second-most successful group from Liverpool, after the Beatles, to have hits on the Billboard pop charts. Their 1963 UK chart-topper "You'll Never Walk Alone" became the anthem of Liverpool F.C., Marsden's lifelong club, and in 1964 his group along with the team performed it on The Ed Sullivan Show. The group's 1965 musical film Ferry Cross the Mersey was co-written by Tony Warren.

Early life

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Marsden was born at 8 Menzies Street, Toxteth, Liverpool,[2] to Frederick Marsden and Mary McAlindin. His interest in music began at an early age. He remembered standing on top of an air-raid shelter singing "Ragtime Cowboy Joe", and getting a great reception from onlookers.[3]

Career

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Gerry and the Pacemakers formed in 1959.[4] They were the second group signed by Brian Epstein, the first being the Beatles, and remained among his favourite artists.[3] Their first single was 1963's "How Do You Do It?", recommended by George Martin after it was initially given to the Beatles. This was the first number one hit for the Pacemakers. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and was released on EMI's Columbia label.[5]

The group's second number one was "I Like It", followed by "You'll Never Walk Alone", both released later in 1963. The group's other singles included "It's Gonna Be Alright", "I'm the One", "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying", and "Ferry Cross the Mersey", all released in 1964.[5] A musical film Ferry Cross the Mersey, considered to be their version of the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night, was co-written by Coronation Street creator and writer Tony Warren, and was released in 1965.[6]

The Pacemakers disbanded in October 1966.[4] After leaving the group, Marsden maintained a low-key career on television,[5] including a regular slot on children's television in The Sooty Show.[7] He also starred in the West End musical Charlie Girl alongside Derek Nimmo and Anna Neagle, replacing another pop singer, Joe Brown. A new song, "Liverpool", was added to the score to tie in with Marsden's Liverpool accent.[8][9]

In 1983, Marsden and the Pacemakers' "Ferry Cross the Mersey" was covered by another band from Liverpool, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, in a new arrangement as the B-side of their song "Relax"; at least partly due to this, Marsden began receiving significant royalties (with his total yearly publishing royalties at the time being equivalent to $250,000 USD).[10] By that time, Marsden also owned a radio station in Liverpool and owned real estate in England and Spain.[10]

Marsden performing in 2011

Marsden returned to #1 in the charts twice during the 1980s with re-recordings of two of his old hits, with all profits going to charity. In 1985 after the Bradford Football Club stadium tragedy in which 56 were killed,[11] he formed a group called the Crowd, which included other musicians, singers, and radio disc jockeys, to produce a new version of "You'll Never Walk Alone".[6] On 18 April 1989, three days after the Hillsborough disaster in which 97 Liverpool F.C. fans died, he joined forces with Paul McCartney, the Christians, Holly Johnson, and his production trio Stock, Aitken & Waterman on a new version of "Ferry Cross the Mersey".[6]

In 1993 Marsden published his autobiography, I'll Never Walk Alone, co-written with former Melody Maker editor Ray Coleman.[12][13] In 1990, he recorded the song "Red White and Blue", with The England Supporters Club,[14][15] that also appears on the Euro 96 album England's Glory.[16][17]

In 2012, Marsden and Paul McCartney were among another group of musicians that recorded a cover of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" for charity; the single was credited to the Justice Collective.[18] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he released a version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" in tribute to the National Health Service.[19]

Personal life and death

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In 1965, Marsden married Pauline Behan, and they had two daughters, Yvette and Victoria.[6] It was Yvette who introduced her father to Frankie Goes To Hollywood's 1983 cover of "Ferry Cross the Mersey" after hearing it being played in a discotheque.[10] Marsden had an older brother, Freddie, who co-founded and played drums in the Pacemakers and who died in 2006.[20]

Marsden's hit song, the anthem of Liverpool F.C., his lifelong club, etched on the 'Shankly Gates' outside Anfield

A lifelong Liverpool F.C. supporter, Marsden's rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" was adopted by the Kop upon its release in October 1963 and became the club's anthem.[21][22] On his reaction to the first time it was sung at Anfield, Marsden recalls:

I was at the match and I heard them all singing it and thought, 'Bloody hell, they're singing my song – fantastic.'[22]

Prior to the release of "YNWA", Marsden had presented the Liverpool manager Bill Shankly with a recording of it during a pre-season coach trip in the summer of 1963, with the club's defender Tommy Smith stating, "Shanks was in awe of what he heard".[23] In 1964, Marsden and his group along with the Liverpool squad performed the track on The Ed Sullivan Show, with Marsden stating, "Bill came up to me. He said, 'Gerry my son, I have given you a football team and you have given us a song'."[22][24]

In September 2003, Marsden had triple bypass heart surgery at Broad Green Hospital in Liverpool.[25] He had a second heart operation in 2016, and announced his retirement in November 2018, although he appeared with Take That at their concert at Anfield in June 2019.[6]

Marsden died on 3 January 2021 at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, after being diagnosed with a blood infection in his heart. He was 78 years old.[26][27] Sir Paul McCartney led the tributes to his old friend, ending his message with "See ya, Gerry. I'll always remember you with a smile",[28] while Liverpool F.C. released a statement saying the club was "deeply saddened" by his passing.[21]

Awards and honours

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In 2003, for his services supporting the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, Marsden was made an MBE.[6][29] In 2009, he was awarded the Freedom of the City by Liverpool.[6][30][31] In 2010, Marsden was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University.[32]

Solo discography

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Albums

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  • A Tribute to Lennon & McCartney (Dominion, 1995)[33]
  • One 2 One (Pulse Records, 1999)[34]
  • Much Missed Man: Tribute to John Lennon (Ozit, 2001)[33]
  • My Home Town (Angel Air, 2021)

Singles

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References

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  1. ↑ Paul Gambaccini; Jo Rice (July 1991). British Hit Singles: Every Single Hit Since 1952. Random House Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-8230-7572-0.
  2. ↑ "Gerry Marsden – The Florrie Archive". Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Gerry Marsden MBE". Liverpool John Moores University. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Biography by Richie Unterberger". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 "Gerry & the Pacemakers". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sweeting, Adam (3 January 2021). "Gerry Marsden obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  7. ↑ Dafydd Rees; Luke Crampton (1999). Rock Stars Encyclopedia. DK Pub. p. 409. ISBN 978-0-7894-4613-8.
  8. ↑ Kurt Gänzl; Andrew Lamb (1989). Gänzl's Book of the Musical Theatre. Schirmer Books. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-02-871941-2.
  9. ↑ "Charlie Girl". East Surrey Operatic Society. Archived from the original on 7 November 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 Fricke, David (11 September 1986). "Gerry and the Pacemakers: Where Are They Now?". RollingStone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  11. ↑ Scrivener, Peter (11 May 2005). "Bradford remembers fire disaster". BBC. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  12. ↑ Leigh, Spencer (3 January 2021). "Remembering Gerry Marsden, the musician who sung Liverpool FC's 'You'll Never Walk Alone'". The Independent. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "I'll never walk alone. Review". Kirkus. 20 May 2010.
  14. ↑ "Gerry Marsden & The England Supporters Club - Red, White & Blue - 7" Record". Atlas Records. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  15. ↑ "Gerry Marsden And The England Supporters Club Discography - UK". 45cat. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "England's Glory - England Squad and Supporters 1966-1996". England Football Online. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  17. ↑ England's Glory: England's Squads & Supporters 1966-Euro '96 - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 4 January 2021
  18. ↑ "Paul McCartney guests on Hillsborough charity single with Robbie Williams". The Guardian. 23 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "Football: Liverpool salute Marsden after You'll Never Walk Alone singer dies aged 78". The Straits Times. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  20. ↑ "Freddie Marsden". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  21. 1 2 "RIP Gerry Marsden". Liverpool F.C. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 Hart, Simon (25 October 2013). "Anfield's 50 years of never walking alone". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  23. ↑ Smith, Tommy. Anfield Iron, Bantam Press, p. 68-69
  24. ↑ "You'll Never Walk Alone: from Broadway to Liverpool FC". Financial Times. Retrieved 6 August 2026. In 1964 the Liverpool team sang it alongside Gerry and the Pacemakers on The Ed Sullivan Show
  25. ↑ "Gerry Marsden Has Triple Heart Bypass Op". NME. 15 September 2003. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  26. ↑ "Musician Gerry Marsden dies aged 78". The Independent. 3 January 2021.
  27. ↑ Robertson, Chris (3 January 2021). "Gerry And The Pacemakers star Gerry Marsden who sang You'll Never Walk Alone dies aged 78". Sky News. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  28. ↑ "Paul McCartney Reacts to Gerry Marsden's Death: 'I'll Always Remember You With a Smile'". Billboard. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "Liverpool FC anthem singer Gerry Marsden dies aged 78". BBC News. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  30. ↑ "Gerry Marsden to receive Freedom of Liverpool". The Telegraph. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  31. ↑ Mitchell McCluskey (3 January 2021). "Gerry Marsden, lead singer of Gerry and the Pacemakers, dies at 78". CNN. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  32. ↑ "Honorary Fellows Index". Liverpool John Moores University. Retrieved 4 January 2021.[dead link]
  33. 1 2 "Gerry Marsden". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  34. ↑ "Gerry Marsden - One 2 One". Discogs. January 1999. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Gerry Marsden Discography - UK - 45cat". www.45cat.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  36. ↑ "ferry cross the mersey | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  37. ↑ "Paul McCartney guests on Hillsborough charity single with Robbie Williams". The Guardian. 23 November 2012.
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