Exile Wins Emmy for 60 Years of Music Documentary
Another milestone for the beloved band!
Written by Amanda Tempel
The band Exile can now add Emmy winner to their decades of accolades! During the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Regional Emmy award ceremony, Exile: 60 Years of Music took the win in the Documentary - Historical category. The documentary was created by KET.
In a statement, Exile said, “As a band now in our 62nd year of music and friendship, we’ve achieved more than we ever imagined as kids. From unforgettable TV moments on The Midnight Special, Solid Gold, and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, to so many others, we’ve been blessed with a remarkable journey. But our documentary has given us center stage like never before. While we’ve seen many dreams come true, we never imagined an Emmy. We tip our hats to KET and producer/director Tom Thurman for bringing this honor home. We’re proud of our Kentucky roots and deeply grateful to be the subject of an Emmy-winning collaboration with our fellow Kentuckians.”
Director Thomas Thurman added, “As the director of this documentary, I knew that it would be a real challenge covering Exile's 60 years of history. But these men are not only talented musicians and songwriters; they are great storytellers as well. And maybe even more importantly, they are survivors thriving in a very tough business. That's a filmmaker's dream right there.”
“I congratulate all our talented staff members for their fine work,” said Shae Hopkins, KET’s executive director and CEO. “These Regional Emmy awards attest to the high-quality and breadth of KET’s productions, underscoring our dedication to telling the stories of the places and people of Kentucky.”
Exile Documentary
Through rare photographs, home movies filmed over 50 years ago, and rarely seen archival musical footage, this documentary chronicles 60 years on the road with true American country rock legends and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame inductees Exile, featuring original members Sonny LeMaire, JP Pennington, Marlon Hargis, Steve Goetzman, and Les Taylor.
“I wanted viewers of this film to know the full story, which traces the band’s history back to 1963. I feature some of their earliest recordings, like “It’s Alligator Time” and “A Game Called Hurt”, from 1966. 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. That’s what I try to present to viewers.
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,” Thurman said.
Exile: 60 Years of Music is available to stream on PBS.org and the free PBS App, across multiple streaming services and devices.
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