Jimmy Stokley and Exile

 

Although of minor significance, today is 35 years since we lostJimmy Stokley of Exile. A little known Kentucky band, Exile is perhaps only known for their 1978 hit Kiss You All Over. In the 80s, the band shifted to more of a country sound, and has not made any noteable chart hits since.

A Jagger-like frontman

Born James Carr Stokley on October 18, 1943, Stokley joined The Fascinations in 1963, who then became Jimmy Stokley and The Exiles, featuring future Exile guiarist J.P. Penington 

Jimmy Stokley and The Exiles, were, towards the end of the decade, shortened to simply The Exiles, before the plural form was dropped in the mid 70s, becoming Exile. Interestingly, Stokley's attire and attitude on stage led to many calling him the American Mick Jagger.

One hitters

In 1978, Exile issued their LP Mixed Emotions through Warner Bros. records. The record features the disco-ey hit Kiss You All Over, written by producer Mike Chapman (also notorious for working with Blondie). Despite contraversial lyrics, Kiss You All Over topped the charts in the US for a month, and was top 10 in a dozen European countries. 1979's All There Is, featured the minor hit, The Part of me That Needs You Most. 

Into the country...

Stokley quit Exile in 1980, which led to guitarist J.P. Pennington taking over as bandleader. The 80s saw Exile experimenting with a fusion of country and Southern Rock, and had three LPs in the top 10 of the Bilboard Country Charts, with 1984's Kentucky Hearts even topping the Country charts.

Beyond this, the band really didn't enjoy much success. Stokley died on August 13, 1985, at the Pattie A. Clay Hospial in Richmond, Kentucky, as a result of complications from hepititis. In 2013, the country configuration of Exile was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, as was the late Jimmy Stokley.

In 1990, J.P. Pennington left Exile resulting in no former members during the rock era. The remaining members found a new guitarist/lead singer, and signed on to Arista records, issuing 1991's Justice.. Due to poor sales, Exile were dropped from Arista in 1992, and disbanded a year later.

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