Gerry Conway, born on September 11, 1947, in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England, began his musical journey playing drums in school bands in London, where, at age 13, he was offered a spot in the Chico Arnéz Orchestra, though his parents declined the opportunity. Leaving school at 16, he worked at EMI Records, joining one of their bands to play Caribbean music before collaborating with British blues pioneer Alexis Korner in 1964. In 1968, he joined the folk-rock band Eclection with Trevor Lucas and later played with Sandy Denny in Fotheringay, which led to his role as Cat Stevens’ regular drummer from 1971’s Teaser and the Firecat through Stevens’ retirement in 1975.

After an unsuccessful stint in the USA with a band alongside Gerry Donahue, Conway reconnected with Jethro Tull backstage in Los Angeles, leading to his contribution to the 1982 album The Broadsword and the Beast and subsequent tour. He also played on four tracks of Tull’s Grammy-winning Crest of a Knave (1987), the single “Part of the Machine” (1988), and the title track of Ian Anderson’s 1999 solo album The Secret Language of Birds. Conway’s career extended to work with artists like Richard Thompson, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, John Martyn, and Pentangle, where he was a member alongside his wife, vocalist Jacqui McShee. In 1998, he joined Fairport Convention, replacing Dave Mattacks, and remained their drummer until his retirement after the 2022 Cropredy Festival due to health issues.

Known for his inventive, precise, and powerful drumming style, Conway brought a unique energy to every performance, earning praise from peers like Simon Nicol, who called him “patient and wise” with an “inner calm and solidity.”