Former Exile member, solo artist and hit songwriter Mark Gray died 12/02/2016 at the age of 64. The Mississippi native got his start singing gospel music in church as a boy and was discovered by The Oak Ridge Boys. On their urging, he moved to Nashville, started writing in their publishing company and would later join the group on the road as a backup singer.
He was a member of the country-pop group Exile from 1979 to 1982 and is known for penning many country hits including Alabama‘s number ones “The Closer You Get” and “Take Me Down”. Some of his other well known hits include Janie Fricke‘s “It Ain’t Easy Being Easy” and his solo hits “Left Side of the Bed” and “Diamonds In The Dust”.
Funeral services were held in Lebanon, Tennessee Monday, 12/05/2016. Gray will be buried in Learned, Mississippi.