Exile (American band)

Exile
Company type	Music group
Industry	Music
Founded	1963 in Richmond, Kentucky, United States
Headquarters	Richmond, Kentucky, United States
Products	Music recordings, live performances

Exile, initially known as the Exiles, is a music group from the United States that originated in Richmond, Kentucky in 1963. The band's lineup features J.P. Pennington and Les Taylor as guitarists and vocalists, Sonny LeMaire on bass and vocals, Marlon Hargis handling keyboards, and Steve Goetzman on drums. In their early days, with original frontman Jimmy Stokley, they performed local cover songs and served as the backing band for the touring show Caravan of Stars. After releasing several singles without commercial success on different labels, Exile broke into the mainstream in 1978 with the soft rock and pop hit "Kiss You All Over", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Following creative disagreements with producer Mike Chapman, Stokley was replaced by Mark Gray and Taylor sharing lead vocal duties; Gray departed after three years to pursue a solo path. During the early 1980s, Exile transitioned into country music, with Pennington, Taylor, LeMaire, Hargis, and Goetzman forming the group featured on their 1983 album Exile, marking their debut country release under Epic Records. From 1983 through 1987, they secured ten number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart along with a chart-topping album titled Kentucky Hearts in 1984.

Between 1987 and 1989, Hargis, Pennington, and Taylor exited the band; LeMaire teamed with multi-instrumentalist Paul Martin to share lead vocals across two albums released by Arista Nashville from 1990 to 1991. Pennington and Taylor embarked on solo careers during the early 1990s. The band dissolved in 1995; subsequently, LeMaire performed with Burnin' Daylight. The classic lineup from the early 1980s reunited in 2008 and has maintained touring and recording activities throughout the 2010s and into the 2020s.

Exile's musical style is distinguished by vocal harmonies that merge rock and pop elements. Most of their country hits from the 1980s were co-written by Pennington and LeMaire, who also played all instruments themselves rather than employing session musicians. Their compositions have been covered by prominent artists such as Alabama, Huey Lewis and the News, Dave & Sugar, and the Forester Sisters.

History

Formed in Richmond, Kentucky in 1963 as the Exiles by students attending Madison High School, Exile's beginnings are described by musicologist Randy Westbrook as "murky" due to contradictory early reports. The founding drummer Mack Davenport had previously played with Paul Smith Jr. (bass), Doug Jones (lead guitar), Ronnie Hall (vocals), Doug Begley (saxophone), and Billy Luxon (trumpet) in the Kings of Rhythm. This ensemble performed jazz, soul, and blues styles. This group later evolved into the Fascinations—comprising Davenport, Smith, Luxon, Jones, percussionist Eddie Rhodus along with vocalists Hall and Jimmy Stokley. After Rhodus's death in a car accident and Jones's departure in 1963, five remaining members disbanded that group to establish the Exiles. They entered a local competition but did not win; following guitarist Jones's exit, Mike Howard from the victorious band the Digits joined them. The name "the Exiles" was inspired by the Cuban migration following the Cuban Revolution.

Initially alternating lead vocals between Stokley and Hall, Stokley's energetic performance style led to Hall being dismissed in 1964. Shortly after, J.P. Pennington joined from local act Le Sabers; he switched to bass allowing Smith to move to rhythm guitar duties. Their first appearance as the Exiles took place in 1964 at Irvine-McDowell Park in Richmond featuring Stokley, Howard, Smith, Davenport, Pennington, and Luxon. Their early performances primarily involved sock hops and high school dances where they covered artists such as the Temptations and James Brown. Seeking a keyboard player, Stokley recruited Buzz Cornelison who had played with Kings of Rhythm previously. With Cornelison added to their lineup, they expanded their local Kentucky engagements.

A steady booking at a youth center in Martin, Kentucky prompted owner David Grigsby to suggest they send a demo tape to Nashville radio personality John Richbourg (John R.). This led to their debut single in 1965 released on Jimbo Records titled "The Answer to Her Prayers," penned by Smith. They became the house band at Speck's nightclub in Richmond. Vocal harmonies were enhanced by contributions from Luxon, Pennington, Cornelison, and Howard allowing them to cover groups like the Young Rascals and the Beach Boys, while Stokley's gritty voice lent itself well to soul covers reminiscent of Wilson Pickett. Parental concerns over his age caused Pennington to leave in 1965; Smith returned to bass creating a six-member formation including Howard, Davenport, Luxon, Stokley, and Cornelison.

1965–1972: Caravan of Stars and Initial Singles

Towards the end of 1965, Richbourg took the group to Nashville to record tracks he produced, including the single "Alligator Time," notable for its double entendre lyrics and spoken-word interjections. Released under Monument Records and credited to Jimmy Stokley and the Exiles, this marked an early milestone. Grigsby reached out to Peggy Rogers, who managed Dick Clark and encouraged the band to participate in Clark's Caravan of Stars touring revue. The Exiles practiced alongside female backing singers for Lou Christie's hit "Lightnin' Strikes," with Cornelison refining their melody, which earned Rogers' admiration.

In 1966, Rogers invited the Exiles to fill in at a Caravan of Stars performance in Lexington, Kentucky, when an instrument truck malfunctioned. They proceeded to tour throughout October and November, supporting artists such as the Yardbirds. Their manager, John Caldwell, pushed for recording sessions in New York City under Date Records in 1967, where the band was featured only as vocalists with session musicians providing instrumentation. Despite releasing singles including a cover of a Young Rascals song, commercial success eluded them. When Caldwell requested relocation to New York, Cornelison left to resume college studies and was succeeded by multi-instrumentalist Bernie Faulkner. Smith was drafted into military service and briefly replaced by Larry Davis before Pennington rejoined the lineup. After spending three months in New York, the group returned to Kentucky.

The Exiles once again supported Caravan of Stars in 1967 and 1968, performing cover songs and backing acts like Freddy Cannon and Paul Revere and the Raiders. A 1968 recording session with Date Records allowed them to play their own instruments but resulted only in the unsuccessful single "Mary on the Beach." Unhappy with life in New York, they departed early in 1969. Howard was drafted for Vietnam service and chose not to return afterward; he later pursued careers in construction and postal work before retiring in 2009. Cornelison rejoined after failing to find alternative employment, with the band relying heavily on keyboardists Cornelison and Faulkner, who also contributed on trumpet, saxophone, guitar, and rhythm guitar.

In 1969, talent agent Alan secured them an opening slot for Tommy James and the Shondells in Baton Rouge. James subsequently invited them back to New York to record his composition "Church Street Soul Revival," released through Columbia Records and reaching number four on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. In 1970, songwriter-producer Buddy Buie recorded "Put Your Hands Together" featuring the Exiles supported by the Atlanta Rhythm Section; however, it did not achieve commercial success. Growing dissatisfaction with Alan's management emerged within the band. Pennington began composing original material but encountered opposition from Stokley and Cornelison; moreover, original songs were poorly received during live performances. By late 1972, drummer Davenport had left and was replaced by Bobby Johns.

Pennington left again in 1972 to relocate to California but returned within months as guitarist following Kennon's departure and Weir's switch to bass. Although discussions about disbanding took place, Stokley was determined to continue. This revamped lineup adopted a harder rock edge blended with vocal harmonies and horn arrangements contributed by Faulkner, Cornelison, and Luxon, resulting in a more sophisticated sound than typical bar bands of that era.

1972–1975: Wooden Nickel Records

In 1972, the group signed a deal with Wooden Nickel Records, based in Chicago, and shortened their name to Exile. Their first album, Exile (1973), produced by co-owner Bill Traut, primarily consisted of cover songs, with only two originals penned by Pennington and his collaborators. The follow-up album, Stage Pass (1973), also relied heavily on covers, including renditions of The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" and a live medley of Jeff Beck songs. Both records failed to achieve commercial success, resulting in their release from Wooden Nickel.

Following their departure from the label, the band underwent several lineup changes: Faulkner exited in late 1973 and later found success in the country genre; Weir left prior to late 1974 and passed away soon after; Danny Williams took over bass duties from Weir; Luxon left due to creative disagreements and eventually became a nightclub owner. Marlon Hargis joined as keyboardist, bringing experience from local studio sessions.

1975–1978: "Try It On" and "Kiss You All Over"

By the mid-1970s, Exile had returned to Lexington, Kentucky, where they recorded demos aimed at securing a new recording contract. Collaborating with Australian producer Mike Chapman, they released the disco-influenced single "Try It On" (1977), which reached number 97 on the Billboard Hot 100. After Johns departed following this release, Steve Goetzman joined as drummer. Encouraged by Chapman's wife to give the band another opportunity, Chapman oversaw the production of "Kiss You All Over," known for its rigorous recording process.

Mike Curb of Curb Records signed Exile to a four-album agreement with distribution handled by Warner Bros. The 1978 album Mixed Emotions fused elements of disco, funk, and pop rock and featured compositions by Chapman and Nicky Chinn alongside Pennington's work. During production, bassist Williams was replaced by Sonny LeMaire due to creative conflicts.

"Kiss You All Over" emerged as a major success, spending four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1978 and charting internationally—topping charts in Australia and reaching number six in the UK. This breakthrough facilitated television appearances and tours supporting Aerosmith and Heart under the representation of William Morris Agency. Subsequent singles included "Never Gonna Stop," which did not chart, and "You Thrill Me," which peaked at number 40 on the Hot 100. Notably, "Never Gonna Stop" was later sampled in Tupac Shakur's "All Eyez on Me," while "Stay with Me" was covered by Dave & Sugar in 1979.

1978–1981: All There Is, Don't Leave Me This Way, and Heart & Soul

Exile began work on their second Warner album, All There Is, in late 1978 and released it in 1979. During recording sessions, Chapman faced challenges due to Stokley's vocal nodules and hepatitis, prompting him to have Pennington and LeMaire take lead vocals on some tracks. To rekindle interest following the underperformance of "You Thrill Me," Chapman emphasized disco influences throughout the album. It featured extensive use of synthesizers and drum machines with lengthy disco-inspired tracks such as "How Could This Go Wrong" and "Too Proud to Cry," which marked Hargis's only songwriting contribution. The lead single "Let's Do It Again" reached number 88 on the Billboard Hot 100; other singles failed to chart domestically but saw modest success in Australia. The album also included covers like "The Part of Me That Needs You Most," previously recorded by Jay Black and B.J. Thomas.

After these difficulties, Stokley was dismissed at Chapman's insistence following the album's release. Randy Rickman briefly filled his position before being replaced by vocalists Mark Gray and Les Taylor, who also contributed keyboards and guitar respectively. Chapman discovered Gray during a visit to Los Angeles and recommended him; Taylor was recruited based on his experience with local bands. Their debut appearance came on Exile's third Curb/Warner release, Don't Leave Me This Way (1980), featuring shared lead vocals among Gray, Taylor, and Pennington. LeMaire observed that Chapman's focus shifted toward other artists like Blondie and The Knack during this period, reducing his involvement with Exile; producer Peter Coleman assumed production duties and was more open to the band's creative input. LeMaire considered this their strongest album under Warner. Singles such as "You're Good for Me" and "Take Me Down" appeared on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in 1980. Notably, Alabama later recorded both "Take Me Down" and "The Closer You Get," each reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. Cornelison left in 1981 due to creative differences to pursue graduate studies and other interests.

Exile fulfilled their Warner/Curb contract with Heart & Soul (1981), reuniting with Chapman as producer in an effort to regain commercial momentum after feeling Coleman lacked hit-making insight. LeMaire and Pennington contributed compositions including "Take This Heart," later recorded by Kenny Rogers. The album incorporated soft rock blended with country influences evident in songs like "One More Night for Love." The title track "Heart and Soul" charted on the Bubbling Under Hot 100; it was subsequently covered by Huey Lewis and the News, achieving top-ten pop success in 1983. Another single from the album, "What Kind of Love Is This," failed to chart.

Country music career

After their contract ended in 1981, Exile was released from Warner and Curb Records. Manager Jim Morey proposed a transition to country music between late 1982 and early 1983, aiming to leverage the genre’s growing appeal and the success Alabama had with covers of their songs. While Pennington welcomed this direction, Hargis and Goetzman were initially resistant. The group started practicing country covers and performed at venues in Lexington, Kentucky, as well as shows in South Africa, where "Kiss You All Over" continued to enjoy popularity.

Gray departed to pursue a solo path, leaving Pennington and Taylor as the primary vocalists. In 1983, Gray signed with Columbia Records and achieved five top-ten Billboard country hits from 1984 to 1986, including two he co-wrote with LeMaire. He died in 2016.

1984–1985: Transition to country with Exile and Kentucky Hearts

Through Morey's connections, Exile was introduced to Nashville producer Buddy Killen, who invited them to perform at the Stockyard club as part of their genre shift. This opportunity led to a deal with Epic Records in 1983. The band’s lineup featured Pennington, LeMaire, Taylor, Hargis, and Goetzman. Their debut Epic album, Exile (1983), produced by Killen with Hargis engineering sound, showcased the band playing their own instruments—an uncommon practice among country groups at the time—and alternating lead vocals between Taylor and Pennington. Despite having left, Gray co-wrote two songs on the album. Singles included "High Cost of Leaving," which reached the Top 30, along with two chart-toppers: "Woke Up in Love" and "I Don't Want to Be a Memory." The album climbed to number ten on the Top Country Albums chart. This success strengthened Pennington and LeMaire’s songwriting partnership and revitalized touring efforts. Between 1983 and 1987, the band earned several nominations from both the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and Country Music Association (CMA).

Their follow-up country release, Kentucky Hearts (1984), became their sole album to top Billboard’s country albums chart. Killen returned as producer; Pennington and LeMaire composed most tracks except for "Comin' Apart at the Seams," which was penned by Taylor and Jerry Marcum. Each of its three singles—"Give Me One More Chance," "Crazy for Your Love," and "She's a Miracle"—reached number one. LeMaire highlighted their focus on rhythmic songwriting and noted that Charley Pride admired "She's a Miracle." The band created a music video for this song that aired on CMT. Critics praised the album for its polished sound and strong vocal harmonies. Additionally, Killen involved Exile in Ronnie McDowell's mid-1985 hit "Love Talks," while the Forester Sisters’ cover of "Just in Case" from Kentucky Hearts also reached number one that year.

1985–1986: Stokley’s passing and Hang On to Your Heart

Following the release of Kentucky Hearts, Exile organized a benefit concert in Richmond that raised $18,000 to assist former lead singer Jimmy Stokley with medical expenses. Unable to perform due to illness, Stokley died from hepatitis at age 41 in August 1985.

In 1986, Exile released their third album under Epic Records, Hang On to Your Heart, featuring songs solely written by Pennington and LeMaire. It yielded five singles: "Hang On to Your Heart", "I Could Get Used to You", "Super Love", "It'll Be Me", and "She's Too Good to Be True". With the exception of "Super Love," all singles topped the Billboard country charts. Notably, Taylor took lead vocals on "It'll Be Me" and "She's Too Good to Be True," marking a departure from Pennington's usual lead role. The track "Music" featured Pennington performing rap vocals. Due to their chart successes along with the Forester Sisters’ version of "Just in Case," Pennington and LeMaire were honored by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) as leading country songwriters of the year. Walter Tunis of the Lexington Herald-Leader commended the album for its tight production and energetic tracks.

Mid to Late 1980s: Shelter from the Night and Lineup Changes

Following the release of Hang On to Your Heart, keyboardist Marlon Hargis exited the group in early 1987 due to tensions within the band and pressures from their record label. He was succeeded by Lee Carroll, who had previously supported the Judds as a backing musician. Roy Wunsch, head of Epic Records, expressed dissatisfaction with the band's sound, describing it as lacking variety. This feedback led to the termination of producer Killen’s role and a decision to seek songwriting contributions beyond those of J.P. Pennington and Les Taylor.

For their last album under Epic, Shelter from the Night (1987), Exile engaged pop producer Elliot Scheiner to inject fresh energy into their music, drawing inspiration from crossover acts such as Restless Heart. Scheiner incorporated external songwriters for three tracks featuring Taylor's lead vocals. The recording sessions took place in June 1987 in Stamford, Connecticut. Critical reception was mixed; although the lead single "I Can't Get Close Enough" secured their tenth number-one spot, subsequent releases struggled on the charts amid stiff competition from neotraditional country artists like the Judds and Randy Travis.

In 1987, Les Taylor departed, frustrated by the label’s preference for singles led by Pennington. Multi-instrumentalist Paul Martin was brought in as his replacement. Soon after, Pennington also left, citing exhaustion and creative disagreements with Carroll and Martin, who felt creatively constrained. By early 1989, Martin had assumed the role of lead vocalist.

Due to the commercial underperformance of Shelter from the Night and significant member changes, Epic Records dropped Exile in 1989. That same year, guitarist and vocalist Mark Jones joined, his versatility complementing Martin’s talents and broadening their live performance capabilities. Roger BonDurant briefly appeared as a touring guitarist but was never considered an official member. Critics observed that Martin’s vocal style closely mirrored that of Pennington, preserving a sense of continuity despite personnel shifts.

1989–1991: Transition to Arista Nashville

With Jones onboard and Martin as frontman, Exile pursued a new recording deal. Radio personality Lon Helton recommended them to Tim DuBois, who had recently established Arista Nashville and was scouting for talent. Although LeMaire hesitated about continuing under the Exile name without Pennington, DuBois saw value in its established recognition and signed them late in 1989.

Their debut album on Arista Nashville, Still Standing (1990), was co-produced by DuBois alongside songwriter Randy Sharp, known for his work with Restless Heart. The album’s lead single, "Keep It in the Middle of the Road", co-written by Pennington and LeMaire with Martin on lead vocals, reached the top 20 on country charts early that year. Critics praised its energetic delivery. Subsequent singles "Nobody's Talking" and "Yet", both co-written and sung by LeMaire, climbed into the top ten country hits—marking LeMaire's first leads since All There Is. Music videos accompanied "Keep It in the Middle of the Road" and "Nobody's Talking." However, their fourth single "There You Go" stalled at number 32.

Their follow-up and final album with Arista Nashville, Justice (1991), again co-produced by DuBois, featured "Even Now"—written by Sharp and Marc Beeson—which became their twenty-first and last entry on Billboard’s country charts, peaking at number 16. The next single "Nothing at All" was pulled back due to concerns over its similarity to Reba McEntire's "For My Broken Heart." Both tracks showcased Martin’s lead vocals.

The album included "The Invisible Man," composed by Mac McAnally, which received acclaim for its compelling lyrics and musicianship. After shelving "Nothing at All," DuBois recommended releasing "Somebody's Telling Her Lies," but internal hesitations prevented this move; eventually Exile sought release from their Arista Nashville contract. During this period, Carroll missed approximately 25 concerts due to his son's liver transplant surgery; Martin alternated between keyboards and guitar during live performances.

Early to Mid-1990s: Solo Ventures, 30th Anniversary, and Hiatus

While signed with Arista Nashville, both Taylor and Pennington embarked on solo projects. Taylor produced two albums with Epic Records: That Old Desire (1990) and Blue Kentucky Wind (1991), yielding four charting singles including a duet with Shelby Lynne; however, none broke into Billboard’s top 40 country rankings. Pennington released Whatever It Takes (1991) via MCA Nashville; its title track along with "You Gotta Get Serious" charted modestly. Concurrently, LeMaire collaborated with Beeson on Restless Heart’s 1992 hit "When She Cries."

LeMaire attributed Exile’s departure from Arista Nashville to the label prioritizing Diamond Rio following their 1991 chart-topping debut single. After leaving Arista, Exile focused heavily on touring—averaging roughly 150 shows annually between 1991 and 1993—and commemorated their 30th anniversary in 1993 with a concert featuring past members. Later that year, after a tour bus robbery incident, they decided to cease touring activities. In 1994, Jones, Martin, and LeMaire performed at Dollywood and recorded Latest and Greatest for Intersound Records—a blend of new material alongside re-recordings of earlier hits like "Super Love." Martin contributed keyboards and earned his sole songwriting credit on "L-O-V-E Spells Trouble."

The band officially disbanded in 1995. Jones and Goetzman transitioned into artist management roles working with talents such as Pat Green, Steve Wariner, and Bering Strait. In 1996, LeMaire teamed up with Beeson and former Southern Pacific member Kurt Howell to form Burnin' Daylight; they released one album through Curb Records. Meanwhile, Martin pursued solo efforts before becoming a backing musician for Kathy Mattea; he also briefly served as baritone vocalist for the Oak Ridge Boys before joining Marty Stuart's Fabulous Superlatives and founding a family ensemble initially called Martin Family Circus—now Rockland Road. Carroll moved into franchising Papa John's pizza outlets before returning to music in 2008 as keyboardist for blues group Tin Can Buddha.

Late 1990s–Present: Reunion

Following challenges in their solo endeavors, Pennington and Taylor reunited Exile with Steve Richmond (drums), Ray Salyer (bass), and Jason Witt (keyboards). This lineup performed at Billy Bob's Texas in 2005; that concert was subsequently issued as part of the venue’s Live at Billy Bob's Texas series. Simultaneously Sonny LeMaire found songwriting success in the early 2000s co-authoring hits such as Diamond Rio’s “Beautiful Mess,” Andy Griggs’ “She Thinks She Needs Me,” and Clay Walker’s “Fall,” collaborating frequently with Shane Minor and Clay Mills.

In 2008, Pennington and Taylor joined forces again with Hargis, LeMaire, and Goetzman for a charity event honoring a former manager—reuniting the classic lineup from their early Epic Records period. This reunion spurred renewed official activity under the Exile name. In 2009 Kentucky’s General Assembly recognized them for their exceptional talent during a special performance before state legislators.

The band independently released an EP titled People Get Ready in 2012 which included a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s title track plus a re-recording of “Kiss You All Over” featuring Trace Adkins. That same year they were inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame alongside Skeeter Davis and Kentucky Headhunters.

Throughout the following decade into the early 2020s Exile continued self-releasing material including holiday albums Wrapped Up in Your Arms for Christmas (2017) and Joyful Noise (2021). They issued Hits (2018), an album compiling re-recorded singles; followed by The Garage Tapes (2019), showcasing early demo recordings. Their most recent studio effort A Million Miles Later came out in 2023 via Clearwater Records featuring primarily compositions by Pennington and LeMaire along with a rendition of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Sixteen Tons.” The track “Down in Cold Water” featured guest vocals by The Isaacs; “Rough Around the Edges” was released as a single.

Also in 2023 former member Billy Luxon published his memoir titled Exiled: The Climax and Surrender of Jimmy Stokley, chronicling the band’s formative years.

On December 1, 2024 former keyboardist Bernie Faulkner passed away at age seventy-seven.

Musical Style

Exile is widely acknowledged for its successful transformation from pop-rock roots into country music prominence. Steve Huey of AllMusic observed that although rock fans remember them chiefly for their 1978 smash "Kiss You All Over," this Kentucky-based ensemble reinvented themselves during the early ’80s as an accomplished country outfit. Westbrook identified hard rock elements within their Warner Bros albums—particularly evident through original lead singer Jimmy Stokley’s vocal delivery alongside instrumentation on All There Is. Huey credited Les Taylor as instrumental in steering this stylistic transition toward country music while Westbrook pointed out Alabama’s successful covers of “The Closer You Get” and “Take Me Down” as catalysts influencing Exile’s evolving soundscape. The Southern twang present in Taylor’s and Pennington’s vocals further enhanced their appeal within country markets. Hargis recalled that although they originated from rhythm-and-blues influences prior to shifting toward rock music styles despite having country origins.

The core sound is chiefly shaped by Pennington’s and LeMaire’s songwriting craftsmanship combined with their vocal performances. Westbrook emphasized Pennington’s melodic aptitude citing use of Lydian mode on All There Is's title track along with Southern gospel-inspired chord progressions evident on songs like “Woke Up in Love” and “Promises, Promises.” Their repertoire incorporated Western swing rhythms plus boogie-woogie influences on tracks such as “I've Never Seen Anything,” “Proud to Be Her Man,” and “Keep It in the Middle of the Road.” During their Epic Records period three-part harmonies among Pennington, Taylor, and LeMaire were prominent—Pennington typically led most singles while Taylor took lead vocals on tracks like “It’ll Be Me” and “She’s Too Good to Be True.” Westbrook noted these successes initiated a series establishing Les Taylor’s popularity within country radio circles.

Early Epic albums highlighted collaborative songwriting between Pennington and LeMaire who often composed together at piano starting from song titles or concepts.

Tom Carter writing for the Lexington Herald-Leader lauded their vocal harmonies coupled with contrasting rhythmic structures within songs. Both Hargis and Pennington noted that Exile was among pioneering country bands performing all instrumentation themselves without reliance on session musicians—a factor Walter Tunis credited alongside dominant songwriting contributions from Pennington-LeMaire during Hang On to Your Heart era as distinguishing traits.

Ellen Creager from Detroit Free Press remarked that Pennington’s and Taylor’s husky vocal tones were particularly engaging while noting that Kentucky Hearts contained mostly upbeat material which set it apart from many contemporaneous country releases.

Lineup

Current Members

Steve Goetzman – drums
Marlon Hargis – keyboards
Sonny LeMaire – bass guitar, vocals
J.P. Pennington – guitar, vocals
Les Taylor – guitar, vocals

Former Members

Roger BonDurant – guitar, backing vocals (touring) (1989)
Lee Carroll – keyboards (1987–1995)
Buzz Cornelison – keyboards, backing vocals, saxophone, trumpet (1964–1967; 1969–1981)
Mack Davenport – drums (1963–circa 1971)
Larry Davis – bass guitar (circa 1967)
Bernie Faulkner – keyboards, backing vocals, guitar, saxophone (1966–1973)
Mark Gray – lead vocals, keyboards (1979–1982)
Ronnie Hall – vocals (1963–1964)
Mike Howard – guitar (1963–1969)
Bobby Johns – drums (circa 1971–circa 1977)
Doug Jones – guitar (1963)
Mark Jones – harmony vocals, guitar (1989–1993)
Bill Kennon – bass guitar (1972)
Billy Luxon – trumpet, backing vocals, percussion (1963–1974)
Paul Martin – lead vocals, guitar (1989–1995)
Paul Smith Jr. – rhythm guitar/bass guitar (1963–circa 1967)
Steve Richmond – drums (2000–2010)
Randy Rickman – lead vocals (1979)
Ray Salyer – bass guitar (2005)
Jimmy Stokley – lead vocals (1963–1979)
Danny Williams – bass guitar (1974–1977)
Jason Witt – keyboards (2005)
Kenny Weir – guitar/bass guitar (circa 1972–circa 1974)

Discography

Studio Albums

Exile (1973)
Stage Pass (1973)
Mixed Emotions (1978)
All There Is (1979)
Don't Leave Me This Way (1980)
Heart & Soul (1981)
Exile (1983)
Kentucky Hearts (1984)
Hang On to Your Heart (1985)
Shelter from the Night (1987)
Still Standing (1990)
Justice (1991)
Wrapped Up In Your Arms for Christmas (2017)
The Garage Tapes (2019)
Joyful Noise (2021)
A Million Miles Later (2023)

References

Works Cited

Tom Roland, The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits, 1991
Randy Westbrook, 50 Years of Exile: The Story of a Band in Transition, 2013
Joel Whitburn, Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2017, 2017

External links