Gerry Monroe (20 January 1933 – October 1989) was an English pop singer, who enjoyed brief popularity in the early 1970s.

Born Henry Morris in South Shields, County Durham, England, Monroe scored five Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart in 1970-71.[1] A former colliery worker, he was spotted on Hughie Green's Opportunity Knocks TV show by Les Reed, who signed him to a long-term deal with Chapter One Records. He had a high and distinctive falsetto voice, and managed to notch up chart hits for the Chapter One label, including "Sally", a song first made popular by Gracie Fields in the 1930s. Monroe's version was co-produced and co-arranged by Reed.[2] In 1997 an album, Sally: Pride of Our Alley, was released on compact disc on the Gold Dust label.[3] Monroe also recorded a tribute to Bobby Charlton in 1973, following the footballer's retirement, called "Goodbye Bobby Boy".

Monroe died in October 1989 at the age of 56.[4]

Discography edit

Albums edit

Title Album details
Sally – Pride of Our Alley
Gerry Monroe
  • Released: 1971
  • Label: Chapter 1
Bring Back the Good Times
  • Released: December 1972
  • Label: Chapter 1
The World of Gerry Monroe
  • Released: April 1975
  • Label: Decca

Singles edit

Title Year Peak chart positions Albums
UK
[5]
AUS
[6]
BE (FLA)
[7]
BE (WA)
[8]
GER
[9]
IRE
SA
[10]
"Sally" 1970 4 83[A] 19 40 14 4 Sally – Pride of Our Alley
"Cry" 38
"My Prayer" 9
"It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" 1971 13 5 49 Gerry Monroe
"Little Drops of Silver" 37 83[A]
"Girl of My Dreams" 1972 43 Bring Back the Good Times
"Bring Back the Good Times" 60
"Goodbye, Bobby Boy" 1973 52[B] Non-album singles
"Reconsider Me" 1975
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Sally" and "Little Drops of Silver" charted as a double A-sided single in 1971.
  2. ^ Chart position is from the "Breakers List", which was an officially published BRMB list of the most popular records in the UK outside of the top 50.[11]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 375. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ^ "Sally, Pride Of Our Alley". Chapter One Records. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Sally: Pride of Our Alley - Gerry Monroe : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 3 August 1997. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  4. ^ "Bring Back The Good Times". Chapter One Records. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  5. ^ "GERRY MONROE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 206. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  8. ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". Offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  10. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (M)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Top 50 Singles". Music Week. 2 June 1973.