Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

GERRY and the PACEMAKERS

UK Merseybeat group. Lineup: Gerry Marsden (b 24 September 1942; d 3 January 2021, Liverpool), vocals; Les Maguire (b 27 December 1941), piano; Les Chadwick (b 11 May 1943), bass; Freddie Marsden (b 23 November 1940; d 2006), drums: all born in Liverpool except Maguire, from nearby Wallasey. Gerry and Freddie passed through skiffle groups (e.g. Mars Bars), gigged in Hamburg with Chadwick, added Maguire on their return. Theye were the second group after the Beatles signed by Brian Epstein, but had their first UK no. 1 before the Beatles did. Their rock'n'roll background was evident in albums (e.g. the first, How Do You Like It? '63); singles focused on Gerry's ever-sunny disposition. They made history as first act to have no. 1 singles with their first three releases: 'How Do You Do It?' and 'I Like It' (both written by Mitch Murray), syrupy and untypical Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'You'll Never Walk Alone', now a soccer anthem (all '63, all produced by George Martin). 'I'm The One' no. 2, 'Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying' no. 6 '64; the last their first and biggest USA hit at no. 4 '65 (seven top 40 singles in USA altogether, nine in UK).

Their first USA chart album was called Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying; Second Album was less successful; Ferry Cross The Mersey was the soundtrack of a film '65, with nine of twelve songs written by the group; title song was no. 8 UK/6 USA, their last top ten entry. Gerry went solo '67; starred with Anna Neagle in Charlie Girl on the West End stage, went on children's TV; re-formed Pacemakers occasionally for revival shows, recorded LP of Lennon/McCartney songs (ironically: 'How Do You Do It?' was first recorded, then rejected, by the Beatles as a follow-up to first hit 'Love Me Do'). Marsden regarded himself as an all-round entertainer, but some LP tracks plus his only known live record (EP Gerry In California '65) hint at a raunchy rocker behind his toothsome exterior. He carried on working cabaret and was back in news '83 when another Liverpool group Frankie Goes to Hollywood equalled their record of three consecutive chart-toppers (first, 'Relax', had cover of 'Ferry Cross The Mersey' on flip); then re-cut 'You'll Never Walk Alone' '85 with show-biz friends as the Crowd to raise money for families of victims of horrific fire at Bradford City Football Club: that record made no. 1.