Gerry Marsden, of Gerry and the Pacemakers, has died at age 78

Gerry Marsden, lead singer of the 1960s British group Gerry and the Pacemakers, has died.

Marsden’s family says the singer died at age 78, after a short illness related to a heart infection.

The group found fame in the 1960s, around the same time as another Liverpool band — The Beatles.

Paul McCartney paid tribute to Marsden in a Twitter post.

Gerry was a mate from our early days in Liverpool. He and his group were our biggest rivals on the local scene. His unforgettable performances of You’ll Never Walk Alone and Ferry Cross the Mersey remain in many people’s hearts as reminders of a joyful time in British music… pic.twitter.com/t1COAIwZVM

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) January 3, 2021

Some of Gerry and the Pacemakers’ biggest hits in the U.S. were “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying,” “Ferry Cross the Mersey” and “How Do You Do It?”

Their version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is played before every home game of the soccer club Liverpool.

Marsden had a career on British TV after the Pacemakers broke up in 1967.