Singer
Mickey Gilley

Mickey Leroy Gilley was born 9th March 1936 in Natchez, Mississippi. Best known as a Country music singer and piano player, he moved to Houston at age 17 and began playing rock n roll in local clubs, cutting "Tell Me Why" and "Oo-ee-baby" for the local Minor label. He experienced little success on a succession of labels - Dot (Memphis), Rex (New Orleans), Khoury (Lake Charles, Louisiana) until in 1960 he cut "Is It Wrong" for Potomac which beca ... me a regional hit. Sadly, the label folded and Mickey continued trying on the Lynn, Sabra and Princess labels. He was performing very much in the rock n roll piano style of his cousin Jerry Lee Lewis (and another cousin, the Reverend Jimmy Swaggart). He formed his own label, Astro in 1964 and cut an album named after a Lewis success "Down the Line". Re-issued on Paula, the album was a regional hit. The big time, however, continued to elude him although he had a minor hit with "Now I Can Live Again" from the album. At an Astro session he laid down a version of George Morgan's old hit "Room Full of Roses" which attracted airplay locally and was picked up for national release by Hugh Heffner's Playboy label. It hit No. 1 in the Country charts. After 12 further hits with the label, Playboy was taken over by Epic and Gilley moved there for his most consistent run of album and singles success. He was now performing straight-up piano-led Country material. Gradually, he moved towards a more pop-orientated sound in the 1980s, which brought him further success on not just the Country charts, but also the Pop charts. Before that, however, he had a string of Country hits throughout the 70s, often revivals like "I Overlooked An Orchid" (Carl Smith - No. 1, 1974), "City Lights" (Bill Anderson - No. 1 1975), "Window Up Above" (George Jones - No. 1 1975), "Bring It On Home" (Sam Cooke - No. 1 1976). His mix of rockabilly, honky tonk and uptown Country provided more hits with "Chains of Love" (No. 9, 1977) "Honky Tonk Memories" (No. 4, 1977) and "Here Comes The Hurt Again" (No. 9,1978). In all, Gilley had 33 Top 10 singles, 17 of which reached No. 1, on the US Country chart between 1974 and 1986. Amongst the biggest hits were "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time,"(No. 1) "Overnight Sensation" (No. 7, both 1976), remakes of the Ben E King hit "Stand By Me" and Buddy Holly's "True Love Ways" (both No. 1s in 1980). In 1971 he lent his name to the opening the famous country nightclub Gilley's in Pasadena, Texas. His career received a big boost when both the club and his music featured prominently in the 1980 film "Urban Cowboy". The soundtrack included the Buddy Holly cover which went to No. 1. The club closed in 1989 and the building was heavily damaged by arson later that year. A new Gilley's club opened in 2003 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. And Gilley's Theatre and Diner in Branson saw the singer take up a successful residency in that Missouri city. His most recent successful recording activity was in 1988 when he released "Chasin' Rainbows" on Airborne which produced his last Top 40 single to date when "She Reminded Me Of You" reached No 23 in the Country charts. In July 2009, Gilly suffered a back injury in a fall and was airlifted to Houston for medical treatment but subsequently returned to Branson and performing in his theatre there. He has a Facebook information page on which he sends regular video messages to members. A recent joint biography about the three cousins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggert and Mickey, called "Unconquered" by J D Davis is a must for any fan of their music, rock n roll, Country and gospel music. See more [+]

You Don't Know Me |||||

VERSE ONE You give your hand to me and then you say hello I ...

That's All That Matters to Me |||||

1.) I know I'm not your first love there's been others befor...

Stand By Me |||||

VERSE ONE When the night has come And the land is dark And ...

I Overlooked An Orchid |||||

The orchid is a flower that blooms so tenderly. It thrills t...

Paradise Tonight |||||

(lady) Honestly I can't believe the magic you do (guy) Never...

Room Full Of Roses |||||

If I sent a rose to you For everytime you made me blue You'd...

Bring It On Home To Me |||||

If you ever change your mind, about leavin', leavin' me behi...

City Lights |||||

A bright array of city lights, as far as I can see, Their gr...

Don't The Girls All Get Prettier |||||

Don?t the girls all get prettier at closin? time Don?t they ...

The Song We Made Love To |||||

Too hard to think about, too sad to talk about, that part of...

A Headache Tomorrow Or A Heartache Tonight |||||

Well if the whiskey doesn?t get me I know the memories will ...

Dont The Girls All Get Prettier At Closing Time |||||

All the girls all get prettier at closing time. Oh, they all...

Everything Turned To Love |||||

Down down by the river On a mountain high above Deep deep in...

Grapevine |||||

I got it through the grapevine that you were through with me...

Here Comes The Hurt Again |||||

Here comes the hurt again you'd think I'd learn The more tha...

Honky Tonk Memories |||||

Honky tonk memories a cheating song melody It takes me back ...

Hungry For The Sunshine |||||

I just looked out my window and it gave my heart a thrill To...

I Aint Giving Up Nothing |||||

If you want me to love you you've gotta love me too If you w...

I Still Care |||||

Some old love letters read one or two A picture and a lock o...

If I Didnt Have A Dime |||||

If I didn't have a dime and I didn't take the time To play t...

It Aint Gonna Worry My Mind |||||

It?s the same old story they all hand me Preacher tells me t...

Backslide |||||

I'm walking the straight and the narrow With my mind set on ...

Before It Begins |||||

You walked right in big as sin With that same ole come get m...

Big Ole Texas Tears |||||

Midnight stars and all night bars are all I ever see A Texas...

A New Way To |||||

I'm growing ti-r-ed of your walking on me I'm always the one...

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