Collection:LPB

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: Ferriday, Concordia Parish, Louisiana, Pasadena, Texas, Branson, Missouri

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2012-12-16

Duration: 00:28:39

Subjects: GILLEY, MICKEY | Country music | LEWIS, JERRY LEE | SWAGGART, JIMMY | Gilley's Club | Urban Cowboy (Motion picture) | Gospel Music | Twitty, Conway

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Barnes, Liz Producer
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Gilley, Mickey Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from December 16, 2012, features an interview with Mickey Gilley conducted by Beth Courtney. Gilley, a native of Ferriday, is a country singer best known for such hits as “Room Full of Roses” and “Don’t the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time.” He discusses: growing up in Ferriday with his famous cousins, Jimmy Swaggart and Jerry Lee Lewis; how a New York Times article about his Texas nightclub, Gilley’s, led to John Travolta starring in the movie “Urban Cowboy,” which is based on his club; the addition of the mechanical bull to his nightclub; the old Gospel music he played in church; recording his first hit, “Room Full of Roses,” at age 38; signing with Playboy Records; touring with Conway Twitty; issues with his business partner at Gilley’s; his move to Branson, Missouri; the musical group that now leases his theater; the traumatic fall that left him paralyzed; his performance “Life Story in Music”; and his current relationship with his cousins.