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Gerry and the Pacemakers

Gerry and the Pacemakers were a British beat group prominent in the 1960s Merseybeat scene. In common with the Beatles, they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein, and were recorded by George Martin.[1] Their early successes alongside the Beatles were instrumental in popularizing the Merseybeat sound and launching the wider British beat boom of the mid-1960s.

Gerry and the Pacemakers

Gerry Marsden and the Mars Bars (1956–1959); Gerry's Pacemakers (2021–present)

Liverpool, England

  • 1956–1966
  • 1972–2018
  • 2021–present (as Gerry's Pacemakers)

Gerry's Pacemakers:
Darren Tingey
Jimmy Stanley
Dean Hilborne
John Meaney

They were the first act to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart with their first three single releases: "How Do You Do It?", "I Like It" and "You'll Never Walk Alone".[2] This record was not equalled for 20 years,[2] until the mid-1980s success of fellow Liverpool band Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Another of their most famous songs, "Ferry Cross the Mersey", refers to the River Mersey, which flows past Liverpool, and was the title song for the film of the same name. The group also enjoyed some success in North America as part of the British Invasion with seven of their singles reaching the US top 40, the most popular being "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying".


Gerry Marsden led the group on and off through the years, until his retirement in 2018. Since his death in 2021 (at his request before his retirement), his bandmates (from his final lineup of the band) returned to touring as Gerry's Pacemakers.[3]


Freddie Marsden died in 2006, followed by Les Chadwick in 2019, Gerry Marsden in 2021 and Les Maguire in 2023. Gerry's Pacemakers: Darren Tingey, Jimmy Stanley, Dean Hilborne, John Meaney, Tee Green, John Summerton, Mike Steed, Tony Young, Andy Mapp, Rick Medlock, Rob Linacre, Tony Hancox & Gerry and the Pacemakers: Arthur (Mack) McMahon, Faron Ruffley, Jose McLaughlin, Billy Kinsley, Pete Clarke, Dave Burgess, Neil Rhodes, Alan Greenwood, Keff McCulloch, Tracey McCulloch, Andy Taylor, Tony Young, Rick Medlock all remain active in music.

Darren Tingey - vocals, bass (2022–present)

Jimmy Stanley - guitar (2023–present)

[41]

Dean Hilborne - drums (2023–present)

[41]

John Meaney - keyboards, vocals (2024–present)

[42]

How Do You Like It? (1963) (UK) / I'm the One (1964) (Canada)

Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying (1964) (US)

Gerry and the Pacemakers' Second Album (1964) (US)

Gerry's Second Album (1965) (Canada)

(1965) (soundtrack album) (with various artists, including The Fourmost, The George Martin Orchestra, and Cilla Black (UK release), as well as The Black Knights, Earl Royce and the Olympics, and The Blackwells (US release); both UK and US releases feature 3 (different) select tracks from other musicians featured in the movie)

Ferry Cross the Mersey

I'll Be There (1965)

Girl on a Swing (1966) (US)

Gerry and the Pacemakers...Today! (1967) (Canada)

A Portrait of Gerry and the Pacemakers (1981) (mix of new songs and re-recorded hits)

20 Year Anniversary Album (1983)

Studio albums

List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart

List of artists by total number of UK number one singles

List of Columbia Graphophone Company artists

List of bands and artists from Merseyside

List of performers on Top of the Pops

Official site

Classic Bands history page

at IMDb

Gerry and the Pacemakers

Gerry and the Pacemakers fan site

discography at Discogs

Gerry and the Pacemakers