Mickey Gilley, a country singer of hits such as “Room Full of Roses,” “Don’t the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time,” and the remake of “Stand by Me,” which featured in the film Urban cowboy, is dead. No cause of death was given. He was 86

Pasadena, Texas Mayor Jeff Wagner broke the news on social media.

“Pasadena has lost a true legend,” Mayor Wagner wrote. “Mickey Gilley passed away today surrounded by his loved ones. It was a great honor to know this man for most of my life. Glad to have him at our State of the City 2/2020. Our prayers are with his family. , his family and his fans.

Since @mayorjeffwagner :
Pasadena has lost a true legend. Mickey Gilley passed away today, surrounded by his loved ones. It was a great honor to know this man for most of my life.
Glad to have him at our State of the City 2/2020. Our prayers go out to his family, loved ones and fans. pic.twitter.com/vr4NDxBLPW

— City of Pasadena TX #pasadenatxgov (@pasadenatxgov) May 7, 2022

In a Facebook post, the mayor spoke of Gilley’s contribution to strengthening Pasadena with his dance hall Gilley’s and the movie Urban cowboy.

“Mickey was a true musical talent who charted 42 Top 40 Country Chart singles over a span of two decades,” he wrote. “His talent and larger-than-life personality helped spark a new interest in country music as he introduced Pasadena to the world through his dance hall and ‘Urban Cowboy’ in 1980.

Pasadena Police Department Chief Josh Bruegger added, “Country music and Pasadena lost a legend today with the passing of Mickey Gilley. Last summer, I had the chance to go to his house and visit him a bit.

Gilley was born in 1936. He was a cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis (on his mother’s side), who grew up near him in Mississippi. Gilley’s career started in the 50s when he released a few songs and then played in clubs and bars. After earning a following in Pasadena, Texas, Gilley had a minor hit “Now I Can Live Again.”

But it was the 1970s that saw hits like “Room Full of Roses,” “Chains of Love,” “Honky Tonk Memories,” “She’s Pulling Me Back Again,” and “Here Comes the Hurt Again.” It was then that Gilley opened his first nightclub – Gilley’s Club – in Pasadena, which was featured, along with the mechanical bull, in the film Urban cowboy. The club became known as the “world’s biggest honky tonk”.

As country music has changed, Gilley has changed. In the 80s, he adopted a more country crossover sound with the remake of “Stand by Me”. The film Urban cowboy featured the song and allowed Gilley to see a resurgence in her career. Gilley followed with the headliners, “True Love Ways”, “A Headache Tomorrow (Or a Heartache Tonight)”, “You Don’t Know Me”, and “Lonely Nights”.

In 2018, Gilley and his friend Troy Payne recorded two old catsfeaturing 13 classic country duos.

Among Gilley’s accolades, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Delta Music Museum in Ferriday, Louisiana, received the key to the city in Winchester, Virginia, and won 6 ACM Awards, including Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Male Singer, and Album of the Year.

In 2009, Gilley suffered a tragic accident when a loveseat he was helping to move fell on top of him, crushing his spine. He was paralyzed from the neck down and underwent physical therapy. Later, he returned to the stage and was able to walk again.

Gilley is survived by his wife, Cindy Gilley, and his 4 children, Keith Ray, Michael, Kathy and Gregory.

Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images