Gerry and the Pacemakers

Gerry Marsden: vocals and guitar b. 24 September 1942, Liverpool Freddy Marsden: drums b. 23 October 1940, Liverpool Les Maguire: piano b. 27 December 1941, Wallasey John Chadwick: bass b. 11 May 1943, Liverpool   1959 [GM age 16-17] Originally formed in Liverpool as a duo, the Mars Bars consisted originally of Gerry (16-17) and Freddy (18-19) Marsden and performed the expected mix of skiffle and rock and roll. With Les Chadwick (17-18) and a request from Mars (the candy company) to change their name, they became the Pacemakers.

[NB: Post-sixties listeners should understand that "pacemakers" as cardiac regulatory devices were not part of everyday vocabulary until later in the 1960s or even 1970s. Thus, the brothers never intended "Pacemakers" to suggest geriatric musicians (reunion tours not withstanding).]

Their next evolution involved finding a keyboard player in Arthur Mack and moving Freddy Marsden to drums. (See Joynson 1995: 213.)

1960 [GM 17-18]

Gerry Marsden emerges as the leader so they begin to advertise themselves as Gerry and the Pacemakers. A concert backing Gene Vincent in a concert at the Liverpool Boxing Stadium gained them local notoriety.

1960-61

Like the Beatles, they do a stint as the house band at the Top Ten Club in Hamburg where they add r&b and mainstream pop tunes to their repertoire.

1961 [GM 18-19]

Cavern Poster from 1961

Les Maguire (keyboards, formerly with another Liverpool group, the Undertakers) replaces Arthur Mack. Gerry and the Pacemakers are regulars on the Liverpool-Hamburg circuit and naturally had lots of contact with the Beatles. Indeed, on 19 October at the Litherland Town Hall they appeared jointly with the Beatles as the "Beatmakers," exchanging "instruments and stage costumes on this occasion" (Joynson 1995: 214). The were also regulars at the Cavern Club.   1962: [GM 19-20] Brian Epstein sees them and becomes their manager in June of this year, later convincing George Martin to become their producer.   1963: [GM 20-21] 14 March. "How Do You Do It?" (Murray) / "Away from You" [Columbia DB 4987; UK #1] 30 May. "I Like It" (Murray) / "It's Happened to Me" [Columbia DB 7041; UK #1] July. How Do You Do It? [UK EP, Columbia SEG 8257] 10 October. "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Rogers - Hammerstein) / "It's All Right" [Columbia DB7126; UK #1] October? How Do You Like It? [Columbia 335X 1546, UK LP] December. You'll Never Walk Alone [UK EP, Columbia SEG 8295]

1964 [GM 21-22]

16 January. "I'm the One" / "You've Got What I Like" [Columbia DB7189; UK #2]

February. I'm the One [UK EP, Columbia SEG-8311]

16 April. "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" / "Show Me That You Care" [Columbia DB7268; UK #6]

3 May. Appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (CBS) to perform, "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" and "I'm the One"

May. Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying [Columbia SEG 8346. UK EP]

3 September. "It's Gonna Be Alright" / "It's Just Because" [Columbia DB7353; UK #24]

December. It's Gonna Be Alright [Columbia SEG 8367; UK EP]

17 December. "Ferry Cross the Mersey" / "You You You" [Columbia DB7437; UK #8]

1965 [GM 22-23]

February. Ferry Cross the Mersey [Columbia 335X 1693; UK LP]

25 March. "I'll Be There" (Darin) / "Baby You're So Good to Me" [Columbia DB7504; UK #15]

11 April. Appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (CBS) to perform "Ferry Cross the Mersey," "It's Gonna Be Alright," "Why, Oh Why"

18 November. "Walk Hand in Hand" / "Dreams" [Columbia DB7738; UK #29]

1966 [GM 22-23]

February. "La La La" / "Without You" [Columbia DB7835]

September. "Girl on a Swing" / "Fool to Myself" [Columbia DB8044]

In 1967, Gerry Marsden went solo and released a series of pop tunes, including a cover of a George Formby song ("I've Got My Ukulele").

UK audiences often know him for his association with football ("soccer"), crowds singing his songs (or songs he popularized) at matches. He has also performed in concerts for football teams and players. For example, he performed "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Rogers and Hammerstein) at a memorial service for Liverpool manager, Bill Shankly, and, later, for victims of a fire at the Bradford City Football Club (Joynson 1995:214). More recently (1996) he headlined a musical revival called Ferry Cross the Mersey.

Northerners	Outline	Merseyside
	12-feb-14