Gerry of the Pacemakers has died

Gerry of the Pacemakers has died

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norman lebrecht

January 03, 2021

Gerry Marsden, a Mersey Beat hero whose recording of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ became the anthem of Liverpool FC, has died of a heart condition at 78.

His other hits were  I Like It, How Do You Do It, and Ferry Across The Mersey.

with the beatles, Gerry Marsden

Symphonic version by the RLPO:

Comments

  • Una says:

    Brings back happy memories as a child of going up the road to Roman Road Market in Bow, East Lobdonto to buy the old 45 record, and driving my parents mad!

  • nonbarihunk says:

    Loved Gerry and the Pacemakers.
    Still get so much nostalgic pleasure listening to their hits. RIP.

  • Barry Guerrero says:

    Oh, that’s a pity. Gerry did so much to promote and uplift Liverpool. I believe he truly loved it there. I still love the two songs you posted here, Norman.

  • Iris Figueroa says:

    Great singer. RIP

  • Peter San Diego says:

    Yes, Marsden’s cover provided the Merseyside (and broader football) connection, but the song should really be credited to Rodgers and Hammerstein, since it was composed for the 1945 musical, Carousel.

  • Duncan says:

    RIP Gerry. Great 60’s pop music! Now, can someone explain why so many guitarists of the early 60’s played their instruments so high up on the body. John Lennon did this too and lots of other British players. Was it a fashion or was there some technical reason for this? Later on they all seemed to play them lower down on the hips (where I guess it carries more sexual overtones) as nearly all players have done ever since.

  • PaulD says:

    Nice orchestration of Ferry Cross the Mersey. I saw the movie of the same name when I was about seven years old.

    It’s gonna be alright.

  • Greg Bottini says:

    I cried out loud when I heard this news.
    Gerry Marsden! Dead! Shit.
    I heard Gerry and The Pacemakers live a million years ago during the British Invasion times, and I loved them. Loved hearing them on the air too, here in S.F. on KYA and KEWB AM radio.
    The songs mentioned by Norman and shown on the clips are of course great, but the one song Gerry did that went straight to my heart, and the one I STILL never get tired of hearing, is “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying”. The beautiful arrangement and the simple but passionate sincerity of Gerry’s singing will live forever.
    I’m crying again…. maybe after the sun comes up tomorrow I’ll have stopped.
    ‘Bye, Gerry. I luv ya, man. I’ll see you on the other side of the river….

    • Barry Guerrero says:

      Yep, Greg, I feel the same exact way about “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying”. It’s the type of song that’ll never sound dated.

  • Ricardo says:

    He always came across as a really lovely chap. Rest in peace! (unlike that arsehole J.Saville who appears on the left between 00:21 and 00:32, if I’m not mistaken)

  • Violin Accordion says:

    Interesting and unusual in “Mersey” starting with verse, rather than chorus , of only 6 repeated notes, in itself enigmatic and plangent, pentatonic or modal. The minor rather than major third is very much unexpected
    The Mersey beat absorbed many and varied influences.

  • Larry D says:

    I remember my late mother, who was never near a Mersey in her life, hearing this song repeatedly on the radio, which she was sure was called, “Very Customary…”

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