Les Maguire Les Maguire Leslie Charles "Les" Maguire (born 27 December 1941, Wallasey, Cheshire) is an English pianist. Maguire started his career, playing tenor saxophone in a Liverpool pop group, the Vegas Five, which later changed its name to the Undertakers. Maguire later left in order to join the Merseybeat group, Gerry and the Pacemakers, replacing the group's original pianist, Arthur MacMahon. In 1961, the Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers merged to become the 'Beatmakers', for a one-off performance in Litherland Town Hall. The line-up comprised Gerry Marsden, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Les Chadwick, Pete Best, Freddy Marsden, plus
Gerry and the Pacemakers famous songs, "Ferry Cross the Mersey", refers to the River Mersey that flows past Liverpool. Gerry Marsden formed the group in 1959 with his brother Fred, Les Chadwick, and Arthur McMahon. They rivalled the Beatles early in their career, playing in the same areas of Hamburg, Germany and Liverpool. McMahon (known as Arthur Mack) was replaced on piano by Les Maguire around 1961. They are known to have rehearsed at Cammell Laird shipping yard at Birkenhead. The group's original name was Gerry Marsden and the Mars Bars, but they were forced to change this when the Mars Company, producers of