Mickey Gilley: The Urban Cowboy of Country Pop
Mickey Gilley was an American country music singer and pianist whose career was revitalized by the 1980 "Urban Cowboy" film movement. Hailing from Natchez, Mississippi, and a cousin to both Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart, Gilley's greatest commercial success came with a string of country pop hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s, many of which topped the Billboard country charts.
Early Career
Mickey Gilley was born in 1936 and began his music career in the 1950s, influenced by the burgeoning rock and roll and country sounds of the era. He recorded for minor labels like Dot and Creole without major breakthrough, eventually moving to Houston, Texas, where he opened the famous Gilley's Club in Pasadena with business partner Sherwood Cryer in 1971, which would later become a central location in the "Urban Cowboy" craze.
Breakthrough
Gilley's career shifted dramatically after he signed with Playboy Records in 1974. His cover of "Room Full of Roses" reached number one on the Billboard country chart that year, marking his first major hit. His association with the 1980 John Travolta film "Urban Cowboy," which was set in his namesake club, propelled him to national fame, leading to a series of chart-topping country pop singles and significant crossover success.
Key Tracks
Room Full of Roses - This 1974 cover was Mickey Gilley's first number-one country hit, reviving his recording career after years of regional success.
Stand by Me - His 1980 country pop rendition of the Ben E. King classic became a signature song, benefiting massively from its association with the "Urban Cowboy" soundtrack and reaching number one on the country chart.
Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time - A 1976 number-one country hit that showcased Gilley's honky-tonk piano style and clever songwriting, becoming a staple of his live performances.
True Love Ways - Another successful 1980 cover from the "Urban Cowboy" era, this song demonstrated his smooth, pop-oriented Nashville sound and added to his string of crossover hits.
Throughout the 1980s, Mickey Gilley continued to score country hits, including "You Don't Know Me" and "Talk to Me," while his club, Gilley's, became a symbol of the country music lifestyle. He recorded for labels like Epic Records and Columbia after his initial Playboy success, maintaining a presence on the charts and on the road with his polished country pop and rock & roll-infused style. Gilley's influence is cemented in the "Urban Cowboy" era of country music, bridging traditional honky-tonk with a more mainstream, pop-friendly audience.
Fans of Mickey Gilley's brand of country pop and honky-tonk piano might also enjoy the music of Johnny Lee, his fellow "Urban Cowboy" soundtrack star and frequent collaborator. The rocking piano style of Jerry Lee Lewis shares a clear familial influence with Gilley's early work. For a similar smooth, pop-oriented country sound from the same period, listeners can explore Kenny Rogers.
