SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1033
WHEREAS, A musical pioneer who built his career in the Lone
Star State, Mickey Gilley has established himself as a hugely
popular artist whose talent and vision helped redefine the field
of country music; and
WHEREAS, Born in Natchez, Mississippi, on March 9, 1936,
Mr. Gilley grew up in nearby Ferriday, Louisiana; he learned to
play piano at an early age and got an education in rhythm and
blues by secretly listening at the windows of clubs; after his
cousin Jerry Lee Lewis found fame, he grew serious about pursuing
a career in music, and while working construction jobs in
Houston, he began performing on local stages and recorded a
number of regional hits on independent labels; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gilley broke through on the national level in
1968 with the single "Now I Can Live Again"; his star rose even
higher in the 1970s, with the opening of Gilley's Club in
Pasadena and a phenomenal string of country smashes that included
"Room Full of Roses," "I Overlooked an Orchid," and "Don't the
Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time"; Esquire magazine ran a
prominent feature on his club that became the basis for the
blockbuster 1980 motion picture Urban Cowboy; the film created a
vast new audience for country music, and it made Mr. Gilley a
superstar as a result of his cameo role and the popularity of the
platinum single "Stand By Me" from the soundtrack album; and
WHEREAS, One of the most successful country artists of the
1980s, Mr. Gilley ruled the charts with a new, more pop-oriented
sound; he scored nine number one singles, among them "You Don't
Know Me," "Talk to Me," and "That's All That Matters";
eventually, Gilley's Club ran its course, but he seized another
business opportunity and opened one of the first star-themed
venues in Branson, Missouri; the Mickey Gilley Theatre marked its
20th anniversary in 2010; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan has received many accolades
through the years; he has won Academy of Country Music Awards in
numerous categories, captured the prestigious Entertainer of the
Year title, and was inducted into the Delta Music Museum Hall of
Fame; and
WHEREAS, During his decades in the music industry, Mickey
Gilley has not only created a treasure trove of extraordinary
country songs, he has also furthered the Lone Star State's
reputation as a center for great music and talented performers,
and it is an honor for the members of this chamber to welcome him
to the State Capitol; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd
Legislature, hereby congratulate Mickey Gilley on his long and
successful career in country music and extend to him sincere best
wishes for an enjoyable visit to Austin; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for Mr. Gilley as an expression of high regard from the
Texas Senate.
Jackson
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 17, 2011.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate