Gerry Cross The Mersey
Douglas Mcpherson pays tribute to the late Liverpudlian singing legend Gerry Marsden.
WITH his big grin and a guitar held high in his own unique posture, Gerry Marsden was at the forefront of the Merseybeat explosion in the 1960s, when bands from Liverpool took over the world.
His group, Gerry and the Pacemakers, were the first in the UK to have three number one records with their first three singles – and one of them, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, is the most famous football terrace song to this day.
Growing up in the port city of Liverpool, Gerry was continually exposed to American records brought home by local sailors.
His father sang and played the ukulele at family gatherings and bought him his first guitar when he was eleven.
Three years later, Gerry and his elder brother Fred formed a skiffle group, the Red Mountain Boys. After discovering the rock ’n’ roll music of Elvis Presley, the group became Gerry Marsden and the Mars Bars, later changing to the Pacemakers because of complaints from the chocolate manufacturer.
In 1959, the Pacemakers were booked for an engagement in Hamburg, Germany, at the Hippodrome circus, which transformed into the Top 10 Club by night.
“We played from seven p.m. to two a.m.,” Gerry recalled. “It was a great apprenticeship.”
Back in Liverpool, the Pacemakers signed a contract with aspiring manager Brian Epstein, who had signed his first group, the Beatles, shortly before.
Gerry knew Brian because he and Paul Mccartney bought records at Epstein’s music shop.
The Pacemakers’ first single, “How Do You Do It”, was written by Mitch Murray and intended to be the Beatles’ debut single.
John Lennon disliked his band’s version, however, and suggested the Pacemakers try it instead.
Produced by George Martin at London’s Abbey Road studios, “How Do You Do It” took the Pacemakers to number one while the Beatles’ first release, “Love Me Do”, reached only number 17.
“John said some words I won’t repeat!” Gerry chortled later.
Proving their first hit was no fluke, the Pacemakers’ second single, “I Like It”, also hit the top spot.
For their third release, Gerry chose the Rodgers and Hammerstein ballad “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, from the musical “Carousel”.
When their record was played over the loudspeakers at Liverpool’s football ground, the fans sang along, beginning a tradition that continues to this day.
The song title became the official motto of Liverpool FC and was incorporated into its coat of arms.
The team even joined the Pacemakers to sing it on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in America.
The hits continued with “I’m The One” and the ballad “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying” which Gerry wrote for his wife-tobe and which became the Pacemakers’ biggest American hit.
Gerry also wrote another song for ever associated with his home city, “Ferry Cross The Mersey”, and played himself in a film of that name.
Gerry disbanded the Pacemakers in 1967 and starred in the West End musical “Charlie Girl”.
He also became a regular guest on children’s TV favourite “The Sooty And Sweep Show”.
However, by 1974 he was back on the concert circuit.
In 1985, Gerry formed a celebrity group, the Crowd, to re-record “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in aid of victims of the Bradford City fire.
The single reached number one, making Gerry the first person to top the chart with two versions of the same song.
He later teamed up with Paul Mccartney, the Christians and others for a charity recording of “Ferry Cross The Mersey” in aid of the Hillsborough disaster fund.
That record also reached number one.
In 2003, Gerry was given the MBE for services to charity.
When Gerry passed away on January 3, 2021, aged seventy-eight, Paul Mccartney said, “His unforgettable performances of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and ‘Ferry Cross The Mersey’ remain in many people’s hearts as reminders of a joyful time in British music.” ■