EXILE Set To Release First-Ever Christmas Album, 'Wrapped Up In Your Arms For Christmas', October 21

By Timothy Yap Sep 17, 2016 05:04 AM EDT

Multi platinum-selling crossover group EXILE has been topping the pop and country charts for more than 50 years, but the band is treading new ground in 2016 with their first-ever Christmas album, Wrapped Up In Your Arms For Christmas. The album hits stores and digital retailers October 21 and is available for pre-order now. In celebration of the release, the "Kiss You All Over" hit makers are also embarking on a Christmas tour, the Holidays and Hits Tour, which runs throughout the month of December with more shows to be added.

Wrapped Up In Your Arms For Christmas features three original tracks, co-written by the group's Sonny LeMaire and JP Pennington, including a funky holiday getaway song "Merry Christmas from Cancun," the title track "Wrapped Up In Your Arms For Christmas," and an ode to spending the holidays at home in the arms of the one you love, "Bluegrass Kind Of Christmas." In addition to the self-penned songs, the band blends R&B, soul, country and gospel sounds on various Christmas classics, giving them the unmistakable EXILE sound fans have loved for decades.

"In the 50-year history of EXILE, we have talked about doing a Christmas album countless times. We're thrilled to have finally created something we are really proud of. It's traditional, yet original, and has that special EXILE sound. We wanted to go above and beyond the average Christmas album and, with Wrapped Up In Your Arms For Christmas, I think we've achieved that," said Marlon Hargis of the band.

Wrapped Up In Your Arms For Christmas is being distributed exclusively by BFD through RED Distribution.

EXILE ON TOUR
*denotes "Holidays and Hits Tour" stops
Sep 17 Kentucky Bourbon Festival - Bardstown, Ky.
Sep 22 World Chicken Festival - London, Ky.
Sep 24 Red Barn Convention Center - Winchester, Ohio
Oct 20 Feather Falls Casino Brewing Co. - Oroville, Calif.
Oct 22 Che-Ae Heights Casino - Trinadad, Calif.
Oct 23 Cache Creek Casino -Brooks, Calif.
Nov 12 Alapaha Station Celebration - Alapaha, Ga.
Dec 02 Angelic Hall - Lebanon, Ky. *
Dec 03 Ross Country Jamboree - Scottsburg, Ind.*
Dec 08 The Franklin Theatre - Franklin, Tenn. *
Dec 16 Renfro Valley Entertainment Center - Renfro Valley, Ky. *
Dec 17 Renfro Valley Entertainment Center - Renfro Valley, Ky. *
Dec 23 Adelphia Music Hall - Marietta, Ohio *

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 over 50 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 1980's EXILE start 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." They have toured with acts including Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Gatlin Brothers and The Judds. The 5 original EXILE members reformed 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.