A lost of people recognize me and maybe will ask for an autograph, but it's nothing like if Elvis would've done something like that, 'cause he's so popular, or maybe The Beatles 'cause they stirred up a lot of action.

In 1984 he had a hit which just missed topping the Country charts called "You've Really Got a Hold On Me". In 1967 Paula Records released Gilley's first album called Down the Line and the following he had a minor hit from the album called "Now I Can Live Again". Together they all sang boogie-woogie and Gospel music however Gilley did not consider himself a professional singer until Jerry Lee hit the top of the charts in the 1950s.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration Gilley is a licensed pilot who holds an instrument rating with commercial pilot privileges for multi-engine airplanes as well as private pilot privileges for single engine aircraft. Although he started out singing straight-up country and western material in the 1970s he moved towards a more pop-friendly sound in the 1980s bringing him further success on not just the country charts but the pop charts as well.