AFTER PARALYZING ACCIDENT IN 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 19, 2014) – The original Urban Cowboy, Mickey Gilley, is hitting the road and will return to touring after recovering from 2009 tragic accident that left him paralyzed.
“I have always loved performing and I know nothing else,” says Mickey
Gilley. “Getting back on stage in all of these cities is something to
look forward to each and every day. The outpour of love and concern
from the fans, my fellow artist friends, and the music community has
kept me fighting to walk back on that stage, so I am glad that time is
finally here.”
Throughout Gilley’s career, he has released 39 Top-Ten country hits
with 17 of them hitting No. 1 on country charts including, Stand By Me, True Love Ways, You Don’t Know Me and A Headache Tomorrow (Or A Heartache Tonight).
In 1976, he swept the ACM Awards, receiving Entertainer of the Year,
Top Male Vocalist, Song of the Year, Single of the Year and Album of the
Year. He has been ranked among the top-fifty country music hit makers
in the 1989 book written by record research historian Joel Whitburn.
Aside from his many hits and being known as the cousin to Jerry Lee
Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart, Gilley was instrumental in creating the “Urban
Cowboy” era with the opening of Gilley’s in 1971 – known as the World’s
Largest Honky-Tonk. The famed-club included mechanical bulls, pool
tables, a rodeo area, punching bags, a shooting gallery and a dance
floor that could hold thousands becoming the forerunner of Hard Rock
Café and other theme restaurants. Esquire Magazine wrote an article “The
Ballad of the Urban Cowboy” based on Gilley’s, which later became the
movie, “Urban Cowboy,” starring John Travolta.
In 2009, while helping his friend move, Gilley became paralyzed from
the neck down after a sofa landed on top of him and crushed four
vertebrae. After several years of intense physical therapy he has
returned to the stage and is now walking, singing and performing.
Mickey Gilley Tour Dates:
March 21 Claremore, OK – Cherokee Casino – Will Rogers Downs
March 22 West Siloam Springs, OK – Cherokee Casino
April 12 Godrey, IL – Lewis & Clark College
April 19 Arlington, TX – Arlington Music Hall
May 8-10 Jackpot, NV – Cactus Petes
May 16 Clinton, IA – Wild Rose Casino
May 17 Emmetsburg, IA – Wild Rose Casino
June 25 Pasadena, TX – Stafford Centre
June 26 Midland-Odessa, TX – Wagner Noel PAC
June 27 Greenville, TX – Greenville Municipal Auditorium
July 13 Lancaster, PA – American Music Theater
July 19 Biloxi, MS – IP Casino
July 30 Shreveport, LA – Casino