NASHVILLE, TN. – (February 22, 2023) – Kentucky Music Hall of Fame members Exile to be showcased in two upcoming productions by KET (The Kentucky Network) in March.
These projects commemorate the award-winning band’s 60th year anniversary as performers and songwriters.
Explore the history of Exile, one of America’s longest-running bands, in two new KET productions: Exile: 60 Years of Music and Exile: Live in Concert.
“We’re excited to have our journey documented by KET. We’re in hopes that our fans, old and and new, enjoy seeing it as much as we did making it.”
EXILE
These songs have an energy and rawness that will blow you away.
The timing of making this documentary was perfect for me as the director.
It coincided with the release of their new album A Million Miles Later, so it allowed me to portray just how relevant and powerful this band remains. Exile is a terrific band. We know that.
But the members (both current and former) are also wonderful people. And both smart and witty.
For a filmmaker, that’s a dream come true.
So many people know the song “Kiss You All Over” and the band’s massive success in country music. But the band is so much more than that.
A documentary about Exile wouldn’t be fair or accurate without emphasizing the importance of their original lead singer Jimmy Stokley, who died in 1985.
In many ways, he’s at the heart of this story I tell,”
THOMAS THURMAN| KET PRODUCER
Premiering Saturday, March 2 at 6:30 pm EST / 5:30 pm CST pm on KET, Exile: 60 Years of Music chronicles the band’s rock ‘n’ roll roots in Richmond, Ky., to their 1978 pop hit “Kiss You All Over” that topped the Billboard charts, to their reinvention as a hit-making country band.
More than six decades in the making, this is a tale of triumph and tragedy, musical peaks and valleys, and, most importantly, creativity and survival.
Through it all, the band stayed true to themselves, their music, and their loyal audience.
Through rare photographs and home movies filmed over 50 years ago, and rarely seen archival musical footage, this documentary chronicles 60 years on the road with a true Kentucky original.
Scheduled for Tuesday, March 5 at 8 pm EST / 7 pm CST, Exile: Live in Concert, recorded at the historic Renfro Valley Entertainment Center in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky, celebrates the band’s 60th anniversary.
The one-hour film captures the band in classic form, sporting all five of its central members: J.P. Pennington, Les Taylor, Sonny Lemaire, Marlon Hargis, and Steve Goetzman.
The performance, recorded Nov. 4, 2023, features many of their biggest hits, including “Kiss You All Over,” “Keep It in the Middle of the Road,” “She’s a Miracle,” “It’ll Be Me,” “Give Me One More Chance” and more.
Exile: 60 Years of Music
KET Saturday, March 2 • 6:30/5:30 pm
KET2 Sunday, March 3 • Noon/11 am
Exile: Live in Concert
KET Tuesday, March 5 • 8/7 pm
KET2 Thursday, March 7 • 7:30/6:30 pm
Earlier this year, Exile announced the release of their new album, A Million Miles Later. This is the group’s first album with original music in over thirty years. The new album is available for streaming and download here.
“This was our most ambitious album project ever, 16 songs,”
”It took about a year and a half to complete and was a total team effort.
I feel like we covered a lot of ground genre-wise.
We have all been influenced by many different styles of music and we tried to reflect that here. We’re very proud of it.”
band member J.P. Pennington
Stay current with Exile on their website exile.biz and social platforms Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Stream and download their music on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, YouTube Music and more.
Watch videos on their official artist YouTube channel.
ABOUT EXILE
Exile formed in 1963, looking to play small clubs in Richmond, Kentucky, but managed to top both the pop and country charts during their 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 started to focus 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 five 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.
2023 celebrates 60 years for the band and the 45th anniversary of the hit song “Kiss You All Over.”
The band is currently on tour promoting their most ambitious album project ever, A Million Miles Later, released in August 2023.
For more information, visit www.exile.biz.
ABOUT KET
Both original productions will air exclusively as part of KET’s TeleFund membership drive (March 2-10).
Supporters can receive DVD copies of either program as a thank-you gift for supporting KET through a monthly or one-time donation.
Exile: 60 Years of Music is a KET production, produced by Tom Thurman.
Exile: Live in Concert is a KET production, produced by Nick Helton.
Both programs are funded in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.
For more information, please visit KET.org/Exile.
KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, where learning comes to life for more than two million people each week via television, online and mobile.
Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization at KET.org, on Twitter @KET and at facebook.com/KET.
