Who was Mickey Gilley?
AMERICAN country music legend Mickey Gilley released his first studio album in 1964, Lonely Wine.
On Saturday, May 7, 2022, Mickey Gilley passed away at the age of 86.
Who was Mickey Gilley?
Born on March 9, 1936, Mickey Gilley was a native of Natchez, Mississippi.
He was the cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis - a famous rock and roll singer of the 1950s - and the two often played music together as children.
Mickey eventually made his move to Pasadena, Texas, and opened his first nightclub, Gilley's Club.
Complete with a mechanical bull, Gilley's Club became known as the "," a title later given to Billy Bob's Texas.
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Throughout his lengthy career, Mickey Gilley released over 20 studio albums, including:
- Lonely Wine (1964)
- Mickey's Movin' On (1975)
- Mickey Gilley (1979)
- Too Good to Stop Now (1984)
- Chasing Rainbows (1988)
- Invitation Only (2003)
- Two Old Cats (2018)
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What was his net worth?
According to , Mickey Gilley had an estimated net worth of around $20million around the time of his death.
He was gifted the Key to the City of Winchester, Virginia, in 2017.
In 2020, a road in Pasadena, Texas, was named Mickey Gilley Boulevard.
He was named the Entertainer of the Year by the Academy of Country Music in 1976 and was inducted into the Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame - located in Louisiana - in 2002.
Was Mickey Gilley married?
In 1953, Mickey Gilley married Geraldine Garrett at the age of 17.
The two divorced nearly a decade later, in 1961.
Together, they shared three children: Keith Ray, Michael, and Kathy.
In 1962, Mickey married Vivian McDonald.
They later welcomed a son named Gregory.
In 2019, Vivian passed away.
Mickey remarried the following year to his longtime friend, Cindy Loeb.
What happened to Mickey Gilley?
The mayor of Pasadena, Texas, announced the death of Mickey Gilley on Saturday evening.
"Pasadena has lost a true legend," wrote the mayor in a .
"Mickey Gilley passed away today, surrounded by his loved ones.
The mayor continued: "It was my great honor to know this man most of my life.
"Mickey was a true musical talent who charted 42 singles in the Top 40 Country Charts over a span of two decades.
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"His talent and larger-than-life personality helped ignite a new interest in country music as he introduced the world to Pasadena through his dance hall and 'Urban Cowboy' in 1980."
The mayor's statement concluded: "Our prayers for comfort and peace are with Mickey’s family, his loved ones and his fans."
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