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Gerry Marsden

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Gerry Marsden
MBE
Marsden in 2011
Marsden in 2011
Background information
Birth nameGerard Marsden
Born (1942-09-24) 24 September 1942 (age 82)
Toxteth, Liverpool, England
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, television personality
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1959–1966 (group)
1966–2018 (solo)
Labels
Websitewww.gerryandthepacemakers.co.uk

Gerard Marsden MBE (born 24 September 1942) is a retired English musician and television personality, best known for being leader of the Merseybeat band Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Biography

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

Gerry and the Pacemakers was the second group signed by Brian Epstein and remained among his favourite artists. Their first single was "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. Marsden said the recording took four or five takes. The group's second number one was "I Like It", followed by "You'll Never Walk Alone". 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".

In 1965, Marsden married Pauline Behan; they have two daughters, Yvette and Victoria.[1]

After leaving the Pacemakers, Marsden maintained a low-key career on television, and starred in the West End musical Charlie Girl alongside Derek Nimmo and Anna Neagle.

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, 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."

On 18 April 1989, three days after the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 Liverpool F.C. fans ultimately died as a result of their injuries, 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".[2]

In 1993, Marsden published his autobiography, I'll Never Walk Alone, co-written with former Melody Maker editor Ray Coleman. On 15 September 2003, Marsden had triple bypass heart surgery at Broad Green Hospital in Liverpool. He had a second heart operation in 2016, and announced his retirement in November 2018.[3]

Discography

For releases with the Pacemakers, see Gerry and the Pacemakers.
  • Please Let Them Be/I'm Not Blue (CBS, March 1967)
  • Gilbert Green/What Makes Me Love You (CBS, August 1967)
  • Liverpool/Charlie Girl (released as Gerry Marsden & Derek Nimmo, CBS, April 1968)
  • In The Year of April/Every Day (NEMS, Nov. 1968)
  • Every Little Minute/In Days of Old (NEMS, May 1969)
  • I've Got My Ukulele/What a Day (Decca, May 1971)
  • Amo Credo / Come Break Bread (Phoenix, April 1972)
  • They Don't Make Days Like That Any More / Can't You Hear the Song? (DJM, August 1974)
  • Your Song / Days I Spent With You (DJM, April 1975)
  • My Home Town / Lovely Lady (DJM, September 1976)
  • The Rose b/w You Are My Everything (PACE 100, September 1988)
  • Ferry Cross the Mersey (with Paul McCartney, the Christians, Holly Johnson, & Stock Aitken Waterman, 1989)
  • He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (as part of the Justice Collective, 2012)

References

  1. ^ "Beatles Girls - Pauline Behan". sentstarr.tripod.com. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  2. ^ [1][dead link]
  3. ^ "Pop icon famous for 'You'll Never Walk Alone' hit song retires", Mirror.co.uk, 28 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018
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