Background
Marsden was born at 8 Menzies Street, Toxteth, Liverpool, Merseyside, and his interest in music began at an early age.
Marsden was born at 8 Menzies Street, Toxteth, Liverpool, Merseyside, and his interest in music began at an early age.
He remembers standing on top of an air raid shelter singing "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" and getting a great reception from onlookers. Gerry and the Pacemakers was the second group signed by Brian Epstein and remained among his favourite artists. Their first single was "How Do You Do lieutenant," recommended by George Martin after it was initially given to the Beatles.
This was the first number one hit for the Pacemakers.
lieutenant was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and was released on Electric and Music Industries"s Columbia label. Marsden said the recording took four or five takes.
The group"s second number one was "I Like lieutenant", followed by "You"ll Never Walk Alone". Other singles included "lieutenant"s Gonna Be Alright", "I"m the One," "Don"t Let the Sun Catch You Crying," and "Ferry Cross the Mersey."
In 1965 Gerry married Pauline Behan and they have two daughters, Yvette and Victoria.
He is most remembered for the song "I Like lieutenant" and his rendition of "You"ll Never Walk Alone", which has been adopted as an anthem of several football clubs, the most notable being Liverpool.
He sang the song at Wembley Stadium when Everton faced Liverpool at the 1989 Field Artillery Cup final shortly after the Hillsborough disaster. Marsden returned to Number. 1 in the charts twice during the 1980s with re-recordings of two of his old hits, with all profits going to charity.
In 1993, Marsden published his autobiography, I"ll Never Walk Alone, co-written with former Melody Maker editor Ray Coleman.