Gilley’s music was standard on the radio, particularly within the Houston space, lengthy after the City Cowboy period had light.
PASADENA, Texas — Nation music legend Mickey Gilley died on Saturday surrounded by household and shut pals. He was 86-years-old.
The announcement comes after Gilley introduced tour date cancellations on Might 1, saying well being points and power ranges prevented him from being at 100% at his reveals.
Gilley, whose profession and enterprise pursuits have been synonymous with the City Cowboy motion of the Nineteen Eighties, had a profession that spanned seven a long time and included musical hits like “Room stuffed with roses,” and “Stand By Me,” and cameos in City Cowboy, the film starring John Travolta and Debra Winger that was set at his Gilley’s nightclub.
Gilley was born March 9, 1936, in Natchez, Mississippi, and grew up in Ferriday, Louisiana. He discovered to play piano at an early age. He discovered the rockabilly model of enjoying from his first cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis, who went on to type his personal profitable music profession.
Not lengthy after information of Gilley’s demise was introduced, condolences started to pour in from followers and friends, together with Johnny Lee, whose award-winning music profession was catapulted by Gilley and the City Cowboy soundtrack.
“I’m devastated, and it’s going to be powerful occurring with out him, stated Lee, a Texas Metropolis native. “I do know he would need me to. I liked Mickey a lot.”
Fellow nation music legend Gene Watson, one other Houston-area singer and songwriter additionally expressed his ideas about Gilley’s passing.
“I am so very sorry to study that our good buddy and unbelievable legend in nation music, Mickey Gilley has handed,” Watson stated in an announcement. “An important singer and an important showman — and at all times an important buddy. Please ship your prayers out for his household.”
Gilley’s music was standard on the radio, particularly within the Houston space, lengthy after the City Cowboy period had light.
Rowdy Yates, who has performed his hits all through his profession as an area radio host on KILT and Nation Legends 97.1, remembered him as greater than an area superstar.
“Mickey Gilley was not only a gifted entertainer, but additionally a popular culture icon,” stated Yates, a Texas Radio Corridor of Fame member and nationwide radio present host. “Not solely did he create a few of the most memorable nation music for many years, however he turned a dingy night time membership in Pasadena, Texas right into a stay music Mecca that was recognized the world over.”
Pasadena Mayor Jeff Wagner gave the next assertion within the announcement:
“Pasadena has misplaced a real legend. Mickey Gilley handed away at the moment, surrounded by his family members. It was my nice honor to know this man most of my life. Mickey was a real musical expertise who charted 42 singles within the Prime 40 Nation Charts over a span of 20 years. His expertise and larger-than-life character helped ignite a brand new curiosity in nation music as he launched the world to Pasadena by his dance corridor and ‘City Cowboy’ in 1980. We have been so honored to have Mickey carry out at our State of the Metropolis in February, 2020. Our prayers for consolation and peace are with Mickey’s household, his family members and his followers.”
