Gerry Marsden, R.I.P.

Gerry Marsden, lead singer of the 1960's British invasion group Gerry & The Pacemakers, has passed away of a blood infection which caused heart failure. He was 78.

While The Beatles put Liverpool on the map, Gerry & The Pacemakers became its heartbeat. Formed in 1959, they would be signed by Beatles manager Brian Epstein and would have a string of hits during the mid-1960's - "How Do You Do It?", "I Like It", a cover of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone". The group wrote "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" while Marsden penned "Ferry Crossed The Mersey".

The group would dissolve in 1966. Marsden would remain in Liverpool and his rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" would become the theme of the Liverpool FC. 

Marsden would re-record "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "Ferry Crossed The Mersey" following the fire at the Bradford City Stadium in 1985 and the Hillsborough tragedy in 1989, respectively. Both re-recordings would top the U.K. charts and the proceeds from both songs were donated to the victims of both tragedies.

I leave you with "Ferry Crossed The Mersey", my favorite Gerry & The Pacemakers song. R.I.P.