Mickey Gilley

Mickey Gilley, acclaimed singer/songwriter died on May 7, 2022. He was 86. Gilley, cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart, got his start playing the club circuit in Texas, eventually opening his first nightclub in Pasadena, Texas called the Gilley’s Club. And with songs such as “Chains of Love,” “Honky Tonk Memories” and “She’s Pulling Me Back Again” along with some well-known covers he quickly established himself in the Country Music genre. However, in the 1980’s, Gilley found himself implanted in the pop landscape thanks to his cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me,” a song featured in the 1980 film Urban Cowboy. Throughout his career, Gilley was recognized many times by the ACM, bringing home awards for everything from ACM Most Promising Male Vocalist in 1974 to ACM Entertainer of the Year just two short years later. And in 2005, he was presented with the ACM Triple Crown.