Fairport Convention drummer Gerry Conway dies aged 76: Legendary musician passes away after battle with motor neurone disease as Cat Stevens leads the tributes

Fairport Convention drummer Gerry Conway has died at age 76, his bandmates confirmed Wednesday.

The musician, who was Fairport’s drummer from 1988 to 2022, died after a battle with motor neurone disease on March 29.

Paying tribute to Conway on their official website, the band wrote: “He brought to the band an impeccable understanding of ‘feel’ and camaraderie, a unique sense of subtlety and a complete understanding of what was required.”

‘Gerry’s impressive musical resume began long before he joined Fairport. He rose to fame as a drummer and percussionist with Cat Stevens, both in the studio and in live performances.

In addition to his time with Pentangle from 1986 to 1993 (then with Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle until 2022), he was also admired for his work with Fotheringay and Jethro Tull.

‘His name spread everywhere and he was the envy of his peers. Fairport Convention’s thoughts and condolences are with Gerry’s partner Jacqui and the family.

Born in 1947, Conway taught himself to play drums at a young age, participating in several school bands before his talent caught the attention of the Orquesta Chico Arnéz, a London-based Latin band, when he was 16 years old.

But although his parents forbade him from joining, Conway soon established himself as a respected professional drummer after leaving school to work for the EMI record label.

There, the musician honed his craft with blues guitarist Alexis Korner, short-lived Sixties bands Eclection and folk-rock group Fotheringay.

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