NATCHEZ — Country music stardom and an accident landing him in a wheelchair could not shake Mickey Gilley’s loyal commitment to his hometown.

Gilley played two shows at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center Sunday, and although he was confined to a rolling office chair on stage, he worked the crowd as naturally as ever.

Gilley apologized to the crowed for being unable to play the piano in a fast-talking show voice.

He said he fell down while moving furniture approximately 13 months ago, which resulted in a bruised spinal cord and temporary paralysis from his neck down.

But Gilley said he is doing everything he can to recover.

In true star fashion, he managed to make an act out of the explanation of his therapy treatments.

Gilley said one of his back treatments was a type of therapy that shakes him.

“If it’s not going to another use it’s shakin’ the devil outta me,” Gilley said, to which the crowd of more than 600 laughed.

Proceeds from the tickets for the 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. concerts went to The Delta Music Museum in Ferriday.

Museum director Judith Bingham said more than 1,200 tickets for the shows were sold.

Gilley, who was outfitted in a yellow blazer and wearing rings on both hands that shone to the back of the room, assured the crowd he would try to play plenty hits — which he said he owed to his fans.

Many in the crowd traveled from around the state and region to catch him in concert.

Some fans traveled closer distances.

Roselee Tyler Gray, 78, attended the concert in Vidalia from Ferriday.

Gray grew up seeing Gilley around the neighborhood and attended school in Ferriday with him.

Gray and her daughter, Marty Bacon, went to the concert with tickets Gray’s son, Hugh Johnathan, gave to his mother as a birthday gift in August.

“This isn’t run of the mill at my age,” Gray said of attending the concert.

Bacon recalled her mother’s stories of Gilley and his cousins from when they grew up together.

“I think they liked to get into scuffles,” Bacon said.

But Gray said it was more “Jerry and Jimmy” who got into fights growing up, and Gilley stayed out of trouble.

Younger fans also enjoyed Gilley’s old-time county at the concert.

Brady Scott Dunaway, 14, sat in the front row with his 11 year-old sister Lauraleigh and grandfather Glen Allred.

Dunaway said he has a good-sized CD collection of Gilley’s music and has also downloaded some of his songs on iTunes.

Dunaway said he was first introduced to Jerry Lee Lewis when he was much younger. He grew to like Gilley and Jimmy Swaggart’s music after learning about them.

Dunaway said he likes all country music from the 50s until now, but he prefers the old stuff — like Mickey Gilley.

“In my opinion the new stuff has too much rock and pop influence,” Dunaway said through his braces.

Gilley said one of the reasons he came back to the convention center after playing a concert in Ferriday in 2009, was to allow everyone who wanted to see him have a chance to get in the door.

Last year, tickets were sold out and fans had to be turned away.

With two shows at the convention center, everyone who wanted to attend was able to — and some fans came to both shows.

“It’s wonderful to be home for a change,” Gilley said.

“I’m going to have a good time and try to play some hits. There will be something there for everyone.”