Mickey Gilley, Louisiana Legends

This episode of the series Louisiana Legends from December 16, 2012, features an interview with Mickey Gilley conducted by Beth Courtney. Gilley, a native of Ferriday, is a country singer best known for such hits as Room Full of Roses and Dont the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time. He discusses: growing up in Ferriday with his famous cousins, Jimmy Swaggart and Jerry Lee Lewis; how a New York Times article about his Texas nightclub, Gilleys, led to John Travolta starring in the movie Urban Cowboy, which is based on his club; the addition of the mechanical bull to his nightclub; the old Gospel music he played in church; recording his first hit, Room Full of Roses, at age 38; signing with Playboy Records; touring with Conway Twitty; issues with his business partner at Gilleys; his move to Branson, Missouri; the musical group that now leases his theater; the traumatic fall that left him paralyzed; his performance Life Story in Music; and his current relationship with his cousins.