Mickey Gilley 'made everybody a friend,' Branson entertainer says in remembering musician

Country music legend Mickey Gilley died this past weekend at 86 years old, and many are sharing their condolences of losing the musician who never met a stranger.

Gilley, whose namesake Texas honky-tonk inspired the 1980 film “Urban Cowboy” and a nationwide wave of Western-themed nightspots, died surrounded by his family and close friends May 7 in Branson. He helped run the Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre on 76 Country Boulevard and was performing as recently as April.

Gilley — cousin of rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis — opened Gilley’s, “the world’s largest honky-tonk,” in Pasadena, Texas, in the early 1970s. By mid-decade, he was a successful club owner and had enjoyed his first commercial success with “Room Full of Roses.” He began turning out country hits regularly, including “Window Up Above,” “She’s Pulling Me Back Again” and the honky-tonk anthem “Don’t the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time.”

By the late '80s and early '90s, Gilley established himself in Branson and was featured in CBS' 60 Minutes 1991 segment describing the city as the "Live Music Capitol of the Universe."

Friendship stemmed from honky-tonk piano

Mike Patrick learned to play honky-tonk piano listening to Gilley's recordings long before he personally knew Gilley.

"I was a fan," said Patrick, now the general manager at Grand County Music Hall. "And then I got to meet him and be able to call him a friend. It's very rare in life that you get to meet your hero and then call him a friend."

Their friendship included Patrick sending Gilley bedazzled show jackets of all sorts. One was covered in roses, which was apt considering some of Gilley's songs. By the time Patrick sent him what would be the final jacket, Gilley replied back with a photo of the sleeves hanging past his hands and said, "No more."

"He made everybody a friend," Patrick said. "Here he is, a movie star, a TV star, a recording star, and he was the most down-to-earth people."

Gilley was a "cheerleader for whoever he was talking to," Patrick added.

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"I think that's the one thing that stands out because you think of what a big star Mickey Gilley was, and how he would break down every wall with everybody that he met and became their friend," Patrick said. "If you met him once, you were his friend."

In the years Patrick has known Gilley, the legend never shied away from talking to, signing autographs or capturing pictures with fans. Although he's sure Gilley would want to be remembered for his works and music, Patrick said he thinks the biggest legacy Gilley leaves behind is his kindness and friendship.

Patrick was struck with complete sadness when he heard the news of his friend's passing, and he started going through all his voicemails Gilley has left him over the years, including him singing "Happy Birthday" to Patrick.

"Every morning on my birthday, crack of dawn, you can expect a call from him singing 'Happy Birthday,'" Patrick said. "For the past three years, I'd set an alarm to make sure I didn't miss that call."

Patrick's birthday is next Tuesday, and it's going to be one phone song short.

"I'm sure gonna miss that call," he said.

Chose to spend his time in Branson

Rachel Wood, chief marketing officer for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, worked at Gilley's theatre in high school and college.

"His laugh was like no other," Wood said. "You didn’t even need to know what he was laughing about because his laugh made you laugh. He never met a stranger and always took the time to talk to every single person that worked there and came through the door."

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As a college student in Pasadena, Texas, Lynn Berry went on dates at Gilley's honky-tonk in the early '70s, but didn't meet him until about 15 years ago.

"We would dance the Cotton-Eyed Joe and we would sing out loud," Berry said. "My love for Mickey Gilley goes way back."

Berry, director of communications for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, said Gilley brought millions of visitors to Branson over the 30-plus years he performed in the Ozarks.

Whenever Berry would call, Gilley answered. She may have needed him to speak to journalists from "near and far," represent Branson for the American Bus Association Marketplace in Nashville, you name it.

"Just getting him through the lobby (at Nashville) on the way to the banquet room would be a good 20 minutes," Berry said because of Gilley's interactions with fans.

The 1991 segment airing on 60 Minutes included greats like Moe Bandy, Mel Tillis and, of course, Gilley standing on a golf course.

"They said they could take their clothes out of the suitcase and put it in the chest of drawers," Berry said about the renowned entertainers making Branson their home. "For Mickey, he could have lived most of his life back in Texas and he certainly could have chosen Nashville or Vegas... and he chose to spend most of his time these past years in Branson."

Berry said no plans have been finalized just yet to commemorate Gilley's legacy in the city of Branson, but will be in the coming weeks.

USA Today contributed to this report.

Sara Karnes is an Outdoors Reporter with the Springfield News-Leader. Follow along with her adventures on Twitter and Instagram @Sara_Karnes. Got a story to tell? Email her at skarnes@springfi.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Country star Mickey Gilley remembered for laughter, music, friendship