Mickey Gilley was an American country music singer and actor who is best known for his hits in the country genre and his famous nightclub, Gilley’s Club. He made a significant impact on country music and was closely related to other music legends like Jerry Lee Lewis.
Personal and Family Life
Mickey Gilley was born on March 9, 1936, in Natchez, Mississippi, and grew up in Ferriday, Louisiana. He was the cousin of rockabilly star Jerry Lee Lewis. Gilley had three marriages throughout his life, including a long marriage to Vivian Lorene McDonald, and had four children. His last marriage was to Cindy Loeb in June 2020, remaining married until his death in 2022.
Career Highlights
Gilley launched his music career in the late 1950s but only gained fame after opening his nightclub, Gilley’s Club, in 1971. Known as the “world’s biggest honky tonk,” the club gained fame as the backdrop for the movie Urban Cowboy in 1980, which helped elevate Gilley’s popularity. He released numerous hits and enjoyed a crossover appeal throughout the 1980s, achieving 17 number one country hits.
Death and Legacy
Mickey Gilley passed away on May 7, 2022, in Branson, Missouri. His contributions to country music and entertainment left a lasting legacy, and he was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2011. Gilley’s Club continues to inspire new generations of country music fans and musicians.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Cowboy | 1980-06-06 | Himself |
| Mickey Gilley: In Concert | 2005-07-12 | Himself |
| Urban Cowboy: The Rise and Fall of Gilley’s | 2015-06-13 | Self |
| Off the Wall | 1983-07-01 | Buck Banner |
| Jerry Lee Lewis: I Am What I Am | 1987-01-02 | |
| Time-Life: Country Legends Live, Vol. 1 | 2005-01-01 | Himself |
| Night of 100 Stars III | 1990-05-21 | Self |
| It’s Branson! | 1999-01-01 | Self |
| Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind | 2022-05-22 | Self (archive footage) |
| Solid Gold | 1980-09-13 | |
| CHiPs | 1977-09-15 | Himself |
| Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters | 1980-11-18 | Self |
| Murder, She Wrote | 1984-09-30 | Conrad Booker |
| The Nashville Palace | 1981-10-24 | Himself |
| Fantasy Island | 1978-01-28 | Billy Jo Prine |
| Where Are They Now? | 1999-06-07 | Self |
| Hot Country Nights | 1991-11-24 | Himself |
| Vicki! | 1992-08-31 | Self |