LONDON (AP) – Gerry Marsden, the lead singer of the 1960s British band Gerry and Pacemakers, who had hits such as “Ferry Cross the Mersey” and the song that became Liverpool football club’s anthem, “You’re Never Walk Alone,” has died. He was 78 years old.
His family said Marsden died on Sunday “after a brief illness in no way related to COVID-19” and that his wife, daughters and grandchildren were “devastated”.
Her friend Pete Price stated on Instagram after talking to Marsden’s family that the singer died after a short illness related to a heart infection.
“I send all the love in the world to (his wife) Pauline and his family,” he said. “You’ll never Walk Alone.”
Marsden was the lead singer of the band that became famous on the Merseybeat scene in the 1960s. Although another Liverpool band – The Beatles – has reached a supreme level, Gerry and Pacemakers will always have a place in the city’s consciousness due to “You’ll Never Go Alone “.
“I thought what a beautiful song. I’m going to tell my band that we’re going to sing that song, “Marsden told The Associated Press in 2018, when he first remembered hearing the song at the movies. “So I came back and told our friends that we were doing a ballad called ‘You’ll Never Go Alone.'”
Marsden is best known for his band’s performance of “Carousel,” which was a 1945 musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, which became a feature film in 1956. The cover version of Pacemakers was released in October 1963 and became the third no. hit the British simple chart. He was adopted by Liverpool football club fans and is sung with a passion for the tingling of the spine before every home game of the English champion 19 times – before the coronavirus restrictions meant that many matches were played on empty stadiums. .
“I am saddened by the passing of Gerry Marsden. His voice will always lead the way to Anfield, in times of celebration or tears, “said singer Elvis Costello, referring to the Liverpool stadium.
The lyrics of the song, showcasing unity and perseverance through adversity – including “When you walk through a storm, keep your head up and don’t be afraid of the dark” – were a rallying cry for Liverpool fans and the title of the song is on the crest of the Liverpool club. .
The song was also adopted by supporters of Scottish Celtic and German Borussia Dortmund.
Liverpool posted on Twitter along with a full-length fan video that Marsden’s voice “accompanied us the biggest nights” and that his “anthem” connected players, staff and fans around the world, helping to create something truly special. “
The song was embraced at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic last spring, when a cover of the play, which featured World War II veteran Tom Moore, came in first. Moore captivated the British public by touring 100 laps of his garden in England before his 100th birthday in April to raise around £ 33 million ($ 40 million) for the national health service.
Liverpool’s Cavern Club, the venue for many of the Beatles’ early concerts, described Marsden as a “legend” and a “very good friend”.
In 1962, Beatles manager Brian Epstein joined the band and the first three releases reached number 1 in 1963 – “How Do You Do It?” and “I like it,” as well as “You’ll never go alone.” The following hits included “Ferry Cross the Mersey” and “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying”. The group split in 1967 and Marsden pursued a solo career before reforming the bank a few years later.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood singer Holly Johnson, who is from Liverpool and wrote “Ferry Across The Mersey”, wrote on Twitter that Marsden is a “Liverpool legend”.
Marsden is survived by his wife Pauline, whom he married in 1965. The couple had two daughters.