The influential movie “Urban Cowboy” is coming to
Blu-ray just in time for it’s 40th Anniversary. Paramount Home
Entertainment’s release allows fans to relive the movie that brought
country music to the forefront. The Blu-ray can be found at various
retailers and a variety of merchandise can be purchased at Gilleys.com.
It was 40 short years ago when the Pasadena Honky-Tonk,Gilley’s,
was made famous in “Urban Cowboy,” the movie that propelled country
music into mainstream media like never before. With the help of the
movie, starring John Travolta and Debra Winger, Mickey Gilley and
several other acclaimed artists like Charlie Daniels, Bonnie Raitt and
Anne Murray were able to light a spark to propel their music careers
further than ever before. Gilley, now in his 80’s, is still going strong
with more than 80 tour dates a year.
Since
“Urban Cowboy” was released in 1980, country music has managed to
remain current and mainstream. After the movie, it became “cool” to wear
cowboy boots and pearl snap shirts and listen to country music. This is
still true today, walk into any honky tonk on Lower Broadway in
Nashville, Tenn. or Austin, Texas and you’ll see the reminders of what
has become known as the “Urban Cowboy Movement” in country music. The
soundtrack for the movie was certified triple-platinum in 2018 and
features hits like “Stand By Me,” “Lookin’ for Love,” “Devil Went Down
to Georgia,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Could I Have This Dance” and many more.
About Mickey Gilley
Country music artistMickey Gilley
has been wowing fans with his haunting sound of Louisiana rhythm and
blues since 1957. The Mississippi native grew up with his two famous
cousins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart, surrounded by the influence
of music. Gilley made his chart topper debut with his song “Is It Wrong
For Loving You,” in which Kenny Rogers played the guitar. After moving
to Pasadena, Texas, in 1971, he opened his world famous honky-tonk
nightclub, Gilley’s. He continued to show chart success with hits like
“City Lights” and “Don’t The Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time”
both of which reached number one on the Billboard Country Charts. In
1980, Gilley appeared in the film “Urban Cowboy” alongside John Travolta
and Johnny Lee. At age 83, Gilley is currently playing solo dates and
is on the Urban Cowboy Reunion Tour with Johnny Lee, playing more than
80 shows across the United States in 2019. Keep up with Mickey on Facebook, Twitter, or visit his website at gilleys.com.