A cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart, he grew up in Ferriday, Louisiana. Like them, he too is an accomplished pianist. Mickey Gilley had thirty-nine country music Top Ten hits of which 16 went to the No.1 spot on the U.S. country chart. In 1976, he was voted Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.

He is known for his Pasadena, Texas, nightclub Gilley's Club which was featured in the movie Urban Cowboy. The club closed in 1989 and, in the same year, Gilley opened a new club in Branson, Missouri.

The club portion of Gilley's burned in 1990, while the rodeo arena portion was razed in 2005 to make way for a school.

His son, Keith Gilley, also is a musician.

Although Gilley had one minor country chart hit — "Now I Can Live Again" coincidentally hit #68 in 1968 — the break that led to him becoming a nationally-known star occurred in 1974. He recorded a single intended to be played in Pasadena jukeboxes. The A-side was "She Called Me Baby" and "Room Full of Roses" was on the B-side.

KENR music director "Dr. Bruce" Nelson (known today as "Dr. Bruce" Nelson Stratton) of then-popular Houston country station played the B-side on the air. It did well, Playboy Records picked it up and it became a national hit.

Gilley's 17 #1 country hits were, in chronological order,

"Room Full Of Roses" "I Overlooked An Orchid" "City Lights" "Window Up Above" "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier At Closing Time" "Bring It On Home To Me" "She's Pulling Me Back Again" "True Love Ways" "Stand By Me" "That's All That Matters" "A Headache Tomorrow (Or A Heartache Tonight)" "You Don't Know Me' "Lonely Nights" "Put Your Dreams Away" "Talk To Me" "Fool For Your Love" "Paradise Tonight" (duet with Charly McClain) Gilley's only U.S. top 40 pop hit was "Stand By Me", which hit #22 in 1980 and was included in the "Urban Cowboy" soundtrack.

"Room Full of Roses", "True Love Ways and You Don't Know Me" also hit the Billboard Hot 100; additionally, "Bring It On Home To Me," "That's All That Matters" and "Talk To Me" "bubbled under" (at 101, 101 and 106, respectively).

Other noteworthy Gilley tunes include, amongst others, his cover of the rock 'n' roll classic "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," as well as "Overnight Sensation," "Honky Tonk Memories," "The Power Of Positive Drinkin," "Chains Of Love, "Honky Tonk Wine," "No. 1 Rock'n Roll C & W Boogie Blues Man," "Sweet Mama Goodtimes," "Backslide," "I Love You So Much It Hurts" and "You'll Never Know."

For his contribution to the recording industry, Mickey Gilley has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6930 Hollywood Blvd.