It's like Branson. When I went to Branson there was only 4 acts in there. Now, you can't count 'em. There's so many theatres now, that only the strong will survive.

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.