Exile, country with touch of west coast …
The group was formed in Richmond, Ky in 1963 with original members Paul Smith, Jimmy Stokley, Mack Davenport, Mike Howard, Buzz Cornelison and Billy Luxon, with Bernie Faulkner joining in 1967. It was not until 1965 that Jimmy (JP) Pennington joined for a short period of time and then left to form his own band in Berea, KY and did not rejoin EXILE until 1968 at which time Paul Smith and Mike Howard were drafted and served in Viet Nam.
During the period from 1965 until 1968, The Exiles were featured on three Caravan of Stars tours that traveled from Colorado to all points east. Headliners were groups such as Paul Revere and the Raiders, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, The Yardbirds, The Four Tops and Little Anthony and the Imperials. The group did not relocate to Lexington, KY from Richmond until 1975.
Among rock listeners, Exile is remembered as the one-hit wonder responsible for 1978’s number one smash “Kiss You All Over.”
Discography
The Complete Collection
Curb Records 1991
Tracks: Kiss You All Over, The Closer You Get, Take Me Down, You Thrill Me, Smooth Sailin'(Rock In The Road), Stay With Me, You're Good For Me, Dixie Girl, Don't Leave Me This Way, Nobody's Hero, Jailbait, Heart And Soul, Take This Heart & One More Night For Love.
Musicians on the The Complete Collection album: J.P.Pennington, Les Taylor, Sonny Lemaire, Marlon Hargis, Buzz Cornelison, Mark Gray & Steve Goetzman.
Keeping It Country
Curb Records 1990
Tracks: You're Good For Me, Nobody's Hero, Don't Leave Me This Way, Take Me Down, Smooth Sailin'(Rock In The Road), Jailbait, There's A Love, The Closer You Get, It Takes Love To Make Love & Let's Do It All Over Again.
Musicians on the Don´t Leave Me This Way album: J.P.Pennington, Les Taylor, Sonny Lemaire, Marlon Hargis, Buzz Cornelison, Mark Gray & Steve Goetzman.
Don´t Leave Me This Way
Curb Records 1980
Tracks: You're Good For Me, Nobody's Hero, Don't Leave Me This Way, Take Me Down, Smooth Sailin'(Rock In The Road), Jailbait, There's A Love, The Closer You Get, It Takes Love To Make Love & Let's Do It All Over Again.
Musicians on the Don´t Leave Me This Way album: J.P.Pennington, Les Taylor, Sonny Lemaire, Marlon Hargis, Buzz Cornelison, Mark Gray & Steve Goetzman.