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Today in Music History: Happy Birthday, Gerry Marsden

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September 24, 2015

Gerry Marsden
Liverpool musician and singer Gerry Marsden poses on board the Mersey ferry, which he made famous with his song Ferry Across The Mersey, as he receives the freedom of the city on April 20, 2009, in Liverpool, England. Gerry's freedom of the city is in honour of his charitable services to the city and his contribution to Liverpool life.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Birthday Highlight:

Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers is 73; he was born in Liverpool today in 1942. After the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers were the second group signed by manager Brian Epstein. The Pacemakers' first single,"How Do You Do It," was recommended to the group by George Martin after it was initially offered to the Beatles. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, "How Do You Do It" was the first No. 1 hit for the Gerry and the Pacemakers. The group's second No. 1 was "I Like It," followed by "You'll Never Walk Alone." Their other hit singles included "It's Gonna Be Alright", "I'm the One," "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying," and "Ferry Cross the Mersey." The band broke up in 1966, but Gerry reformed the group in 1974, and they continue to perform and tour to this day. Gerry's work for various charities resulted in his receiving an MBE from Queen Elizabeth in 2003 and an honor from the city of Liverpool in 2009.

Also, Today In:

1966 - Jimi Hendrix and his manager, Chas Chandler, arrived in London on a flight from New York. Hendrix landed in the U.K. with only the clothes he was wearing, having sold his other belongings to pay a previous hotel bill. One of the first things Hendrix did after arriving in England was legally change his name from James to Jimi.

1966 - The Association started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Cherish."

1983 - Billy Joel went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Tell Her About It," Joel's second No. 1 hit.

1988 - Bobby McFerrin started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Don't Worry Be Happy," the first a cappella song to be a No. 1 record.

1991 - Nirvana released their epic Nevermind. The album has sold more than 30 million copies.

2012 - Mumford & Sons released their second studio album, Babel, which debuted at number one on both the U.K. Albums Chart and the U.S. Billboard 200. It became the fastest-selling album of 2012 in the U.K., and it won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Birthdays:

Linda McCartney was born today in 1942.