NEW YORK (AP) – During his career, Mickey Gilley had 39 Top 10 country hits and 17 No 1 songs – and was in various TV shows. But in 2002, he told The Associated Press he thanked John Travolta every night before bed for keeping his career alive. Gilley says it was his association with the movie “Urban Cowboy” that “had a huge impact” on his career. The movie was based on the self-named nightspot Gilley ran in Texas featuring a mechanical bull. The movie made the club a tourist draw. Mickey Gilley has died at 86. He’d been performing as recently as last month, but was in failing health over the past week. (Photo: AP)