EXILE

Exile Credit_ Mark Conner 1.jpg
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Exile formed in 1963, looking to play small clubs in Richmond, Kentucky, but managed to top both the pop and country charts during their over 60-year-long career. Their most successful hit, “Kiss You All Over,” spent four weeks at the top of Billboard’s pop chart in 1978. In the early 1980s, Exile began focusing on country music. During their run on the country charts, Exile has successfully had ten No. 1 singles, including “I Don’t Want To Be A Memory” and “Give Me One More Chance.” The hit song "Kiss You All Over" was used in the 1996 Adam Sandler movie “Happy Gilmore” and in the 2006 film “Employee of the Month.” They have toured with acts including Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, The Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Rogers and The Judds. The 5 original Exile members re-formed in 2008 and continue to tour today. Current members of the band include J.P. Pennington, Les Taylor, Sonny LeMaire, Marlon Hargis, and Steve Goetzman.

  • 11 Number One Songs

  • 3 Gold Albums

  • 8 Million Records Sold

  • March 2026 will celebrate 63 years as a self-contained vocal band, believed to be the longest-running band in history, with original members still together and five original members from the 80s still on tour today.

  • Sept 30, 2025, was the 47th Anniversary of “Kiss You All Over,” which hit #1 in 1978 and stayed #1 for four weeks and charted for 23 weeks.

  • Exile was inducted into The Kentucky Hall Of Fame in 2013

  • JP Pennington and Sonny LeMaire have been recognized as Songwriter of the Year by BMI and have recently been awarded 7 Million Airplay Awards (3 for 4 million!). Les Taylor was awarded a BMI Country Award for his songwriting on Janie Fricke’s “It Ain’t Easy Being Easy”

  • The hit song "Kiss You All Over" was used in the 1996 Adam Sandler movie “Happy Gilmore” and in the 2006 film “Employee of the Month.”

  • They have toured with acts including Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, The Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Rogers and The Judds. 

  • Opry Debut 8/9/2008 Sat First Show 8:00 PM - they have over 120 appearances, and it is their dream to become a member of the sacred Grand Ole Opry!

  • Exile was nominated in 1983 for Top Vocal Group by the Academy of Country Music (ACM), a nomination they would receive again in 1984, 1985, and 1987.[101] They would also be nominated by the Country Music Association (CMA) for Vocal Group of the Year in every year from 1984 to 1987, as well as Instrumental Group of the Year in 1984 and 1985.

Highlights:

  • May 20th at 7 pm 2021 SESSIONS LIVE - INCLUDES a Virtual Hang with EXILE after the show 

  • TIME LIFE Digital Release of FOUR Exile albums The Garage Tapes, Exile Hits, Live at the Franklin Theatre and People Get Ready. For the first time ever, the multi-award winning albums will all be available on all digital platforms and include #1 hits and many all-time fan favorites including “Kiss You All Over,” “Woke Up In Love,” “I Don't Want To Be A Memory,” “Give Me One More Chance” and many more. With a career spanning nearly six decades and eleven number one songs, 3 Gold Albums and 8 Million Records Sold, Exile continues to tour and create new music. Music is available for streaming on all digital music platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more.

  • Since April 17, 1997 - 110 Exile performances on the Grand Ole Opry – anything prior to that was not kept. This is after they went computerized

  • “Kid At Heart” Named on of the The CMBeat Top Ten Country Christmas Songs of 2020

  • “Kid At Heart” released 10-20-20. Penned by Exile member, JP Pennington and John Bizzack.

  • “Exile - The Garage Tapes” released on July 13, 2019 with 30 of the original “demo” songs from 1979 - 1982

  • As of JAN 1 2020 - 110 performances on the Grand Ole Opry

  • Celebrating 58 years in 2021 as a vocal band with 5 original members from the 80’s still on tour today.

  • Kicked off the 57th Anniversary of “No Limits Tour” in Nashville TN 2020

  • Released “The Garage Hits” July 13, 2019  with a performance in a cave at The Caverns, Pelham TN

  • Released “The Hits” in Fall 2018

  • Sept 30, 2021 will be the 43rd Anniversary of “Kiss You All Over” which hit #1 in 1978 and stayed #1 for four weeks and charted for 23 weeks.

  • The group has had 11 number 1 songs

  • 3 Gold Albums

  • 8 Million Records Sold

  • Inducted into The Kentucky Hall Of Fame in 2013

  • Two members have been recognized as Songwriter of The Year by BMI and recently recognized with seven Million Airplay Awards  (three were for 4 million!)

  • The longest running American self-contained band