Mickey Gilley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mickey Gilley | ||
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 Mickey Gilley
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Mickey Leroy Gilley | |
| Also known as | Gilley | |
| Born | March 9, 1936 (age 70) | |
| Origin | Natchez, MS | |
| Genre(s) | Country Music | |
| Occupation(s) | Country music singer | |
| Years active | 1964 – Present | |
| Associated acts |
Moe Bandy Bobby Bare Johnny Lee Charly McClain Ronnie Milsap Wynn Stewart |
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| Website | www.gilleys.com | |
| Members | ||
| Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame | ||
Mickey Leroy Gilley (born March 9, 1936 in Natchez, Mississippi) is an American country musician and singer.
A cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis and Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, he grew up in Ferriday, Louisiana. Their older cousin, Carl McVoy, was the first one into recording. Like them, he too is an accomplished pianist. Mickey Gilley had thirty-nine country music Top Ten hits of which 16 went to the No.1 spot on the U.S. country chart. In 1976, he was voted Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.
He is known for his Pasadena, Texas, nightclub Gilley’s Club which was featured in the movie Urban Cowboy. The club closed in 1989 and, in the same year, Gilley opened a new club in Branson, Missouri.
The club portion of Gilley's burned in 1990, while the rodeo arena portion was razed in 2005 to make way for a school.
Although Gilley had one minor country chart hit — "Now I Can Live Again" coincidentally hit #68 in 1968 — the break that led to him becoming a nationally-known star occurred in 1974. He recorded a single intended to be played in Pasadena jukeboxes. The A-side was "She Called Me Baby" and "Room Full of Roses" was on the B-side.
KENR music director "Dr. Bruce" Nelson (known today as "Dr. Bruce" Nelson Stratton) of then-popular Houston, TX country station played the B-side on the air. It did well, Playboy Records picked it up and it became a national hit.
Contents |
[edit] Gilley's 17 #1 Country Hits
- "Room Full Of Roses"
- "I Overlooked An Orchid"
- "City Lights"
- "Window Up Above"
- "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier At Closing Time"
- "She's Pulling Me Back Again"
- "True Love Ways"
- "That's All That Matters"
- "A Headache Tomorrow (Or A Heartache Tonight)"
- "You Don't Know Me'
- "Lonely Nights"
- "Put Your Dreams Away"
- "Talk To Me"
- "Fool For Your Love"
- "Paradise Tonight" (duet with Charly McClain)
Gilley's only U.S. top 40 pop hit was "Stand By Me", which hit #22 in 1980 and was included in the "Urban Cowboy" soundtrack.
"Room Full of Roses", "True Love Ways and You Don't Know Me" also hit the Billboard Hot 100; additionally, "Bring It On Home To Me," "That's All That Matters" and "Talk To Me" "bubbled under" (at 101, 101 and 106, respectively).
Other noteworthy Gilley tunes include, amongst others, his cover of the rock 'n' roll classic "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" as well as "Overnight Sensation," "Honky Tonk Memories," "The Power Of Positive Drinkin," "Chains Of Love, "Honky Tonk Wine," "No. 1 Rock'n Roll C & W Boogie Blues Man," "Sweet Mama Goodtimes," "Backslide," "I Love You So Much It Hurts" and "You'll Never Know."
For his contribution to the recording industry, Mickey Gilley has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6930 Hollywood Blvd.
On March 02, 2002 Gilley along side with his two famous cousins Jerry Lee Lewis and Rev. Jimmy Swaggart were inducted into the Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame in Ferriday, LA.
In October 2004 Make The World Go Away featured on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack, playing on fictional radio station K-ROSE.
Mickey Gilley currently tours under with The Rippers (of Full House fame). Mickey Gilley and the Rippers cover several traditional Mickey Gilley original songs with a new twist
Gilley is considered one of the most influential and experimental musicians in country music. His son, Keith Gilley, also is a musician.
[edit] Albums
See the Mickey Gilley Discography.
[edit] Awards
- 2002 — Inducted into the Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame
- 1976 — Academy of Country Music – Entertainer of the Year
- 1976 — Academy of Country Music – Album of the Year
- 1976 — Academy of Country Music – Single of the Year
- 1976 — Academy of Country Music – Song of the Year
- 1976 — Academy of Country Music – Top Male Vocalist
- 1976 — Music City News Country – Most Promising Male Artist of the Year
- 1974 — Academy of Country Music – Top New Male Vocalist
