He is famous for songs like:
* "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time" (1974)
* "Room Full of Roses" (1975)
* "Stand By Me" (1976)
* "You Don't Know Me" (1977)
* "She's My Kind of Woman" (1978)
* "Oklahoma Swing" (1980)
Gilley's music is characterized by its upbeat tempo, honky-tonk sound, and catchy melodies, which made him a popular figure in the "urban cowboy" movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
He was also known for his ownership of the famous "Gilley's" nightclub in Pasadena, Texas, which was featured in the movie "Urban Cowboy" (1980) and helped popularize the honky-tonk scene.