Gerry and the Pacemakers

Gerry and the Pacemakers were an English beat group prominent in the 1960s Merseybeat scene. In common with the Beatles, they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein and produced by George Martin. Their early successes helped make popular the Merseybeat sound and launch the wider British beat boom of the mid-1960s.

They were the first act to have all of their first three singles reach No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart: "How Do You Do It?", "I Like It" and "You'll Never Walk Alone", the latter from the musical Carousel. This record was not equalled for 20 years, as Marsden requested before he retired.

History

Gerry Marsden formed the group in 1956 with his brother Fred, Les Chadwick, and Arthur McMahon. They rivalled the Beatles early in their career, playing in the same areas of Liverpool. but they were forced to change this when the Mars Company, producers of the chocolate Mars bar, complained.

Brian Epstein signed them to Columbia Records (a sister label to the Beatles' label Parlophone under EMI). The song was produced by George Martin and became a number one hit in the UK, the first by an Epstein-managed Liverpool group to achieve this on all charts. "How Do You Do It?" was also reluctantly recorded by the Beatles (they eventually convinced Martin to let them release their song "Love Me Do" as a single instead). Both the Pacemakers' and Beatles' versions of "How Do You Do It?" were recorded at Abbey Road Studios.

Gerry Marsden was quoted as saying:

thumb|left|The 'Shankly Gates' entrance to Liverpool's home stadium [[Anfield. The anthem of Liverpool F.C., "You'll Never Walk Alone" is sung by its fans before the start of each home game, with the Gerry and the Pacemakers version played over the PA system.]]

Gerry and the Pacemakers' next two singles, Murray's "I Like It" and Rodgers and Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone", both also reached number one in the UK Singles Chart, the latter recorded instead of the Beatles' "Hello Little Girl". "You'll Never Walk Alone" had been a favourite of Marsden's since seeing Carousel when he was growing up. It quickly became the signature tune of Liverpool Football Club and, later, other sports teams around the world. The song remains a football anthem. The group narrowly missed a fourth consecutive number one when "I'm the One" was kept off the top spot for two weeks in February 1964 by fellow Liverpudlians The Searchers' "Needles and Pins".

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 charts. Although they never had a number 1 in the United States, they were the second-most successful group from Liverpool, after the Beatles, to have hits on the United States Billboard pop charts.

thumb|The group's New York arrival in 1964.

Despite this early success, Gerry and the Pacemakers never had another number one single in the UK. Marsden began writing most of their songs, including "I'm the One", "It's Gonna Be All Right" and "Ferry Cross the Mersey", as well as their first and biggest US hit, "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying", which peaked at No. 4.

In the US, their recordings were released by the small New York City record label Laurie in 1963, with which they issued four singles without success. When the Beatles broke through in January 1964, Laurie's next regular single release of "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" (Laurie 3284) became a big hit and, during 1964, Laurie coupled "How Do You Do It?" with "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Laurie 3261), and "I Like It" with "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" (Laurie 3271), with some success. They appeared in the landmark concert film T.A.M.I. Show, released in December 1964, performing alongside Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, James Brown and The Rolling Stones.

By late 1965, their popularity was rapidly declining on both sides of the Atlantic. Kinsley had previously been a member of The Merseybeats, the Kinsleys, and Rockin' Horse. (Kinsley would later reunite Rockin' Horse after leaving the Pacemakers and rename his new group Liverpool Express). Clarke had previously been a member of a band called The Escorts. In April 1973, this second version of the group became the only Merseybeat band to ever record for the John Peel Show on BBC Radio. The tracks from that show have now been included on the album Gerry and the Pacemakers Live at the BBC, released on Parlophone Records in October 2018. Since then, Marsden often toured with various lineups of the band on the oldies circuit. By the mid-1980s, Gerry and the Pacemakers toured nine months every year (in the words of David Fricke of Rolling Stone) "doing lucrative cabaret gigs and nostalgia rock shows in Europe, North America, and Australia." 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".

Drummer Freddie Marsden later opened the Pacemaker driving school in Formby after having previously worked for British Telecom during the 1980s.

On 15 March 2017, Gerry Marsden collapsed onstage due to a sore knee while performing at a concert in Newport, Wales. After being helped offstage, Marsden did not return but was quoted as saying the incident was "nothing serious".

Gerry Marsden announced his retirement on 29 November 2018, in order to spend more time with family, but, on 6 June 2019, to commemorate Liverpool's win against Tottenham in the Champions League, he surprised Take That fans by singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" at their show at Anfield. (After the original lineup broke up during the 1960s, Chadwick moved to Australia.

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.

Les Maguire, the last surviving member of the classic 1960s lineup, died on 25 November 2023. (Some time after the original lineup split during the 1960s, Maguire joined the Royal Navy, where he was still serving and employed during 1985). The Ironic thing is that although the Kop helped to make the song Famous, Gerry was an Evertonian. He was a Bluenose, and made his band wear Everton blue jackets when they went to Hamburg,Germany

The chart-topping song quickly gained popularity within the Liverpool community and became the Reds football anthem shortly thereafter.

Gerry Marsden gave Liverpool manager Bill Shankly a copy of the single during a pre-season trip in 1963, the manager said to have been in awe of the song. Since then, the song has been played prior to every Liverpool home game at Anfield, with the club also eventually adding "You'll Never Walk Alone" to its coat of arms and using the phrase as an official motto. The sea of red scarves raised by Liverpool fans in The Kop as they sing their anthem pre-game has become one of the most iconic images in the sport of football.

Dean Hilborne - drums (2023–present)

Former members (Gerry and the Pacemakers)

The original lineup of "Gerry and the Pacemakers" are in bold

Gerry Marsden – lead vocals, guitar (1956–1966, 1972–2018; died 2021)
Les Chadwick – bass (1956–1966; died 2019)
Freddie Marsden – backing vocals, drums (1956–1966; died 2006)
Arthur (Mack) McMahon – piano (1956–1961)
Faron Ruffley – vocals (January–February 1961)
Les Maguire – harmony and backing vocals, piano (1961–1966, 1980s; died 2023)
Jose McLaughlin – piano, guitar, musical director (1972–1974)
Billy Kinsley – bass (1972–1975?)
Pete Clarke – drums (1972–1978)
Dave Burgess – drums (1978–1983)
Neil Rhodes – bass (1981–1982)
Alan Greenwood – piano (1981–1982)
Keff McCulloch – backing vocals (1990s)
Tracey McCulloch – backing vocals (1990s)
Steve Thompson - lead guitar, vocals (2001 - 2018)
Nick Woolgar - drums (2012 - 2018)
Andy Wild - Keyboards (2003 - 2012)
Rick Medlock - drums
Andy Cairns, bass guitar
Sean Fitzpatrick. drums

Former members (Gerry's Pacemakers)

Members of Gerry's Pacemakers who were in Gerry and the Pacemakers are in bold

Tee Green - vocals (2021–2022)
John Summerton - vocals, lead guitar (2021–2023)
Mike Steed - bass (2021–2022)
Tony Hancox - vocals, keyboards (2023–2024)