Mickey Gilley, born in Natchez, Mississippi, is one of the greats of country music. Even now in 2004 he is still going strong playing the music he loves.

Mickey Gilley was born in April,1936, to Irene and Arthur Gilley. At a young age he fell in love with music. Often, he would sneak out to blues joints to listen and learn more about music. When Gilley was ten years old his mother bought him a piano, which his grandmother taught him to play.

Overall, Gilley has released fifteen albums. These albums include Chasing Rainbows in 1989 and Bring It On Home in 1976. Bring It On Home also won him single of year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1976. What started his whole career of seventeen number one hits was Room Full of Roses in 1974. Gilley’s other number one hits include I Overlooked an Orchid and Stand by Me which also went pop.

In 1970 Gilley went in part-ownership to open Gilley’s night club in Pasadena, Texas. He and the club were both featured in the 1980 film, Urban Cowboy. Today, there is also the Mickey Gilley Theatre in Branson, Missouri, where Gilley is still playing music his brand of country music. He has also released his latest album, Room Full of Roses /Gilley’s Smokin’.