Mickey Gilley Returning to Branson After Long Recovery

Mickey Gilley is back. After nearly eight months of physical therapy following a life-threatening accident last July 5, Mickey says he can't wait to get back to work.

LIFE IN BRANSON first reported the incident last August, speaking to the country legend about the accident that left him in intensive care, paralyzed from the neck down after he fell helping a friend move a piece of furniture. When we spoke to Mickey on Monday (April 5) from his condo in Branson, Mo., his enthusiasm was contagious. The entertainer was eager to talk about his miraculous recovery, and his long-awaited return to his own Mickey Gilley Theater in Branson on April 12.



"I'm doing pretty good," explains Mickey. "I'm beginning to walk down the steps here at my condo without any problem. I can walk about 200 feet without any help. I have to have somebody close to me because I can't afford to fall. I'm not able to play the piano yet but I think maybe by the end of the season my hands may come to the point where I can play the piano again.



"My stamina seems to be coming back," he continues. "And even though I'm going to have to sit on a stool and start the show, I think I'm going to be able to pull it off alright. I'm still working on my health getting back to normal. I have to have somebody close to me when I walk, but I'm doing a lot of things on my own. I can shave myself, I can feed myself, I can comb my hair, I can take a shower and things of that sort. I have a little help to button my pants because my hands don't work as well. Other than that, I'm doing good. I sat out on the patio yesterday. I'm trying to get a little sun tan to look better so I don't look so pale and white after laying up for seven and a half months."



Mickey says he'll be doing the 8 o'clock shows five days a week. "I think I'll be able to do it," he reasons. "I don't know why I can't. I'm going to have a full rehearsal on the 10th and the 11th and then on the 12th, we open. I'm excited about going back to work after being down for seven-and-a-half months. I've got some new stuff I'll be doing in the show that I think people will get a kick out of. I've got four new songs I'm putting in the show. I'll do the songs that were hits for me including the No. 1 songs, but the new stuff will be fun."



Mickey's sense of humor remains healthy. "I've got to go back to work or either go broke," he says with a laugh.



Mickey's shows at The Mickey Gilley Theater in Branson, are scheduled from Apr. 12 through Dec. 15.

Mickey Gilley returns to links, theater

Mickey Gilley prepares to tee off at Thousand Hills Golf Course on Thursday.

By Joshua Clark

Entertainment Editor

Originally published April 3, 2010



In addition to celebrating its 15th anniversary, Thousand Hills Golf Course welcomed Mickey Gilley back to Branson on Thursday, as the entertainer hit a ceremonial tee shot to commemorate the occasion.



“We are so excited and honored to have Gilley here,” said Dan Davis, PGA professional at Thousand Hills. “Branson is such a cool town and this is such a cool golf course, but it’s so much cooler with Gilley around.”



Since falling last July, Gilley has been working around the clock in rehab to regain his strength for not only a return to the course, but to the stage.



As he pulled into the parking lot, Gilley, an avid golfer, gave a smile and a thumbs up to everyone waiting to welcome him home. He walked from the golf cart to the tee box, unassisted, before teeing up for the shot. The ball headed straight into the creek below the first tee box.



“That’s not the first time I’ve ever been in that creek,” he said with a laugh.



When asked about his injury and rehab, Gilley said, “Without a doubt it was the toughest eight months of my life. It’s so good just to be here.”



After his seven-month stay in Texas, Gilley has returned to Branson to begin rehearsals for his 2010 show.



“The rehearsals have been going very well,” said Jay Brandon, horn player in Gilley’s Urban Cowboy Band. “His attitude and everything he brought is so upbeat and positive. It’s just great.”



Despite not being back at 100 percent, Gilley flashed his trademark sense of humor.



“My body may not be working right, but my mouth is just fine.”



Opening night for the 2010 season is April 12 at the Mickey Gilley Theatre.



“After seven-and-a-half months of being out of action, I’m very happy to be back,” Gilley said. “We have a lot of new material in the show, and I’ll try and do as many of the No. 1 songs I’ve had in the past. I can’t play the piano yet, but hopefully before the season’s over I will.”

Andy in Vegas in Michel Legrand Tribute

Michel Legrand’s rehearsals included his guest performers at MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 26, 2010. Music legends Andy Williams, Melissa Manchester, Michel Legrand, Dionne Warwick and Steve Lawrence are pictured here.

Good News from Our Friend, TOM MULLICA!

Friends/Family...

 

I've been told that the sun will come out tomorrow...well, today it came out.  After 2 rounds of chemo and my 4th bone marrow biopsy two days ago, my doctor told me today that my bone marrow is CLEAN.  I'm in remission.  They want me to stay in the hospital for another 2 weeks to monitor my white blood cell count, then I can go home.  I'll be home for about 2 weeks (after almost 2 months here) then come back to the hospital for a 5-day chemo treatment.  I'll go home for 3 weeks then return for another 5 days of chemo.  I'll do this 4 times, ending in sometime in August.

 

Then Stephen and I will drive to St. Louis to check into Barnes Hospital where they have one of the best leukemia wards in the country.  I will go through a stem-cell-transplant which is the only CURE for leukemia.  The hospital will find a stem-cell/bone marrow donar through a nationwide network.  This person will have blood drawn which will go through a process of seperating the stem-cells.  Years ago it was a painful process of digging-out bone marrow...now they just draw blood and pull the stem-cells from the blood.  After the stem-cells are taken from the donar's blood, they are injected into my body.  This only takes about an hour or so.  Then I go through a 3-4 month process of medications to help me go through the transplant.  Like most transplants, my body will try to reject the new cells so they monitor you very closely.  There are many possible altercations including liver damage but this is the only cure or leukemia.  I got to do what I got to do!!!

 

So, to make a long story short, I'll be out of work and healing until the end of the year.  If I'm lucky, I'll return to the show next March/April.  I've applied for social security disability to help us with our bills...we'll come close to losing our house but hopefully we'll make it with the help of our entertainer friends in Branson.  They are planning a benefit show for Stephen and me on May 17th at 7pm at The Mansion Theatre...we don't know what we'd do without this act of kindness/concern.  We're so lucky.

 

Got to go, just wanted you to hear the good news.

 

Love from us both,

 

Tom & Stephen

 

It's Musical Theater Time Again in Branson!

Ray Stevens returns to Branson for a six-week run at The Welk Resort Theatre from September 15 through October 23.




Bill Haley's Original Comets join Paul Revere and the Raiders for a combo show at Andy Williams Moon River Theatre; Andy will perform in the fall as well as during Christmastime.



The historic Owen Theatre in downtown Branson has been renovated for a new show starring Joseph Hall in "A Tribute to Elvis." Hall was Top 10 finisher in both the "Ultimate Elvis" contest in Memphis, and on "America's Got Talent."



The Cat's Pajamas, an award-winning vocal band, performs at The Dutton Family Theatre. This popular quartet, described as revolutionizing a capella performance, has been seen all over the world. The Dutton Theatre also features tenor extraordinaire George Dyer in his new show.



Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers will perform at The Mansion Theatre for select dates in the spring and again in the fall.



Debby Boone along with Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers get together for the Christmas Season at The Mansion Theatre.



The Legend of Kung Fu, with a cast of over 50 performers and a designated show of the Beijing Olympics, shares the ancient art of Kung Fu in a theatrical setting, combining martial arts and the elegance of Cirque-like acrobatics. With over 3,000 performances in China, Australia, Vancouver, and London thus far, it is set for a May debut in Branson at The White House Theatre, recently renovated to house this large-scale production.



The Clay Cooper Theatre welcomes Neal McCoy and Buck Trent.



Yakov's Moscow Circus is a unique blend of mad-cap antics, romantic comedy and outright fun! Join the circus at Yakov's Theatre and have fun with Andrei the Clown, Irina Markova and her award-winning canine troupes and their feline friends, Flying Adagio star Marina the Ballerina, the National Unicycling Champion Anthony Soumiatin, and more. Plus an authentic Russian Dinner served at every show.



Cirque Montage, a thrilling acrobatic show of daring and skill, featuring Cirque du Soleil alumni, opens at the Starlite Theatre.



Branson's newest attraction, the Branson Auto Museum, is located on the world-famous "Strip" in the former "Engler Block" crafts mall. The auto museum features over 100 cool cars inside and 15-20 outside. The gift shop features die-cast, apparel, books, magazines (with a reading area), pedal cars and many other unique automotive items.



The Polar Express will entertain all ages this Christmas season at Branson Scenic Railway.



The Welk Resort offers a new indoor/outdoor water attraction, "The Splash-A-Torium." This 10,000+ square foot water attraction features a 100-foot, indoor water slide, indoor/outdoor pool, locker rooms, and a large indoor/outdoor hot tub. Plus an indoor/outdoor "Splash-Zone" where staying dry is impossible.



The White River Comedy Club, in the Branson Landing, is an upscale 178-seat club that offers a rotating schedule of stand-up comics, many who've appeared on Letterman, Leno, HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central and Last Comic Standing.



Have you ever dreamed of medieval castles? Based on an original project in Europe, a hideaway in the Ozark Mountains just south of Branson is being prepared for the Ozark Medieval Fortress, an entertaining and educational attraction. A team of historians, architectural experts and builders is constructing a genuine fortified castle, with towers, a drawbridge, moats, and stone walls surrounding using the techniques and materials of the 12th century. Thirty masons, carpenters, and stone carvers will work year-round for twenty years, the time required to build the entire castle.



Branson Zipline & Canopy Tour


Prepare to fly! Straight from the jungles of Costa Rica to the Branson forests, get ready to soar through the trees on over one mile of ziplines and walkways while experiencing the splendor of the Ozark Mountains.



Ironman 70.3


On September 19, 2010, the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Branson will serve as one of 34 worldwide qualifying events for the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Fla. Professional athletes will be competing for a $25,000 prize purse.

Suck On It, New York!! Houston Has Direct Flights To Branson, Missouri!!

In case you've been experiencing the typical Houstonian's self-doubt about whether or not we're really a sophisticated metropolis, you can relax.




Houston is now one of only five American cities with direct flights to Branson, Missouri. On real planes, too!

You didn't think he would do "Moon River," but then bam -- second encore!!

Branson Air will fly charters out of Hobby starting in May. Non-stop, muthafuckaz. The new service is part of ExpressJet Airlines, the same wonderful people who fly as Continental Express. (Note: Don't read this unless you want to have your parameters of "wonderful" broadened.)



Who are the other four major metropolises to be so blessed? One is Austin, which has a natural music connection -- one's the Live Music Capital of the World, the other's the Live Music Capital of the Early-Bird Special.



The rest of the cities? Big time, baby.

They include, according to the Houston Business Journal, Des Moines, which is the largest city in Iowa; Shreveport, which is one of the five or six biggest cities in Louisiana, and Terre Haute, Indiana, which....which....is the largest city in the Greater Terre Haute Metropolitan Area.



Dallas? San Francisco? Boston? On the outside looking in.



For a taste of what's in store, head to the Branson webpage. Just under the "O" listing for shows, you have the Osmonds AND the Oak Ridge Boys. One need look no further than that, sir.



But if you think otherwise and are still unconvinced, know this: Yes, Yakov Smirnoff is still in town.

Tom Mullica Hospitalized.

This e-mail comes from Cox South Medical Center in Springfield.

I was admitted today...




Briefly...Stephen and I are in our touring season and about a month ago, while performing in Alliance, NE, I almost passed-out on stage. I stopped my routine and appologized to the audience as Stephen brought a chair on stage. I tried to catch my breath and couldn't. I was very weak and disoriented. I did Guzzlers Gin while seated and continued to tell the audience that something was wrong. I told them they could get a refund because I couldn't continue with the show. I went into the wings after thanking them and was met by 3 emergency techs. I was rushed to the emergency room where I got poked and prodded. The doctor on call told me to return home, cancel my tour and see my personal doctor.



To make a long story a bit shorter, I had blood work done and was told to have a bone marrow biopsy in Springfield - which I did. My white blood cell count was through the roof and the doctor who did the biopsy told me that IF my white blood cells were immateur and numbered more than 20% I was in trouble. The next day I found out that over 40% of my cells are immateur and that I have ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA.



So, I'm in the cancer ward for 30 days of high level chemotheropy!!!



I've had to cancel our remaining tour dates and postpone our 16th of March opening in Branson. Things don't look good but I wanted you to hear this from me rather than through the grapevine.



Stephen and I are taking this day by day. More later ... they're hooking me up to the chemo-drip right now.



Love to you all - Tom