Gerry Marsden dies at 78: Never Walk Alone singer dies after brief illness

Gerry Marsden died at age 78 after a brief illness.

The Gerry And The Pacemakers frontman, who sang the famous song “I’ll Never Walk Alone,” suffered an infection in his heart, it was announced Sunday.

The news came from Gerry’s friend, radio host Pete Price, who shared a photo of the couple together.

Sad news: Gerry Marsden has died at 78 after a brief illness [pictured in 2015]

Pete, 74, tweeted: “ After speaking with the family my heart aches so much that I have to tell you that the legendary Gerry Marsden MBE after a brief illness that was an infection in his heart, sadly passed away.

‘Sending all the love in the world to Pauline and her family. You will never Walk alone.’

Gerry is survived by his wife Pauline Marsden, whom he married in 1965.

The couple have two daughters, Yvette and Victoria.

Pictured: Gerry And The Pacemakers in London in 1964. Les Maguire, Freddie Marsden, Gerry Marsden and Les ‘Chad’ Chadwick are pictured

Heavy heart: The news came from Gerry’s friend, radio host Pete Price, who shared a photo of the couple together. [Pete, 74, pictured R]

Gerry underwent triple bypass heart surgery in 2003, before undergoing a second heart operation in 2016, eventually having his own pacemaker fitted, which he once joked wasn’t ‘funny’ given his band’s name.

Announcement: Pete tweeted the news to his followers on social media on Sunday.

When asked last year if he found it ironic that his band was called The Pacemakers, Gerry replied: ‘No. I’m wearing one, for crying out loud!

At the time of writing, Gerry’s family has not publicly commented on his passing.

Gerry And The Pacemakers rose to fame for their chart-topping hit, You Never Walk Alone, in 1963, prompting the band’s local football club, Liverpool FC, to adopt it as one of their traditional songs.

It is still sung by masses of fans to this day and was used in 2020 in the UK and Europe as a supportive anthem for medical personnel, first responders and those in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gerry also had success with hits like I Like It, How Do You Do It, and Ferry Across The Mersey, the latter as a nod to Mersyside, where the band originated.

The band was the first act to reach number one on the UK charts with their first three single releases.

Long-Term Love: Gerry is survived by his wife Pauline Marsden, whom he married in 1965.

Father of two: the couple has two daughters, Yvette and Victoria [pictured in 1967]

Swinging Sixties: Gerry also had success with hits like I Like It, How Do You Do It, and Ferry Across The Mersey, the latter as a nod to Mersyside, where the band originated. [pictured in 1960]

Gerry was part of the band with his brother Freddie Marsden, along with Les ‘Chad’ Chadwick and Arthur McMahon. They were set to rival the Beatles in their early days.

Freddie, who was the band’s drummer, died in 2006, at age 66, of cancer.

He had left the band when they disbanded in 1967. The Pacemakers reformed again in 1973, without Freddie, who was then running a driving school.

Gerry was a fixture on television and the West End stage. But he left show business in November 2018.

When the news broke on Sunday, tributes reached Gerry, including one from former Liverpool FC chief executive Peter Moore.

Tragic news this morning. We have lost one of the most precious members of the @LFC family. We were honored to welcome Gerry to Anfield in 2018, and he rewarded us by singing YNWA right before kickoff. #RIPGerry ‘, was his tweet.

Liverpool FC echoed this on Twitter, posting: ‘It is with such sadness that we learn of Gerry Marsden’s passing. Gerry’s words will live forever with us. You will never Walk alone.’

Piers Morgan tweeted: “RIP Gerry Marsden, 78. The man who with Gerry And The Pacemakers gave the people of Liverpool two of the best anthems in town. Cross the Mersey by ferry and you will never walk alone. Great singer, great character. Very sad news.