Formed in 1972 as a southern rock, hard rock and Top-40 band. Members included Bill Jeffries (guitar, vocals – formerly of Laurel band the Notations, D.C. bands Saturday’s Children, Poison), Bob Hoyle (bass), Dan Marvelle (guitar), Glen Wheeler (guitar), Al Papenberg (guitar, vocals), Tom Reyes (keyboards ’72-74), Randy Murray (keyboards), Chris Eminizer (sax, flute, clarinet, guitar, piano, harmonica, vocals… Peabody Conservatory alumnus), Don (drums) replaced by Ken Lawrence (ex-Underground Construction) in 1975…
A mid-70s lineup featured Jeffries, Hoyle, Eminizer, Lawrence, James Brown (keyboards, vocals), and Vicky Atwood (vocals, percussion). Mike Chase (sound tech), Dermid McDonald (lights).
Atwood went on to join Trilogy and was replaced with vocalist Bunky Taylor. Brown left and was replaced with Joe Marsiniac (keys) who was in turn replaced with Ed Schisler (keys, guitar ex-Del Vinos). Eventually Eminizer and Jeffries left. Papenberg returned to play lead guitar and vocals.
Atwood (seated in front), Hoyle, Brown, Lawrence
Ajax originally began as a rock band in early ‘70s, conformed to Top-40 (1975-77) then disco (1977-79), then returned to classic rock roots for their final years. Assisted by lighting tech Mike Koontz and sound tech Tom Nappi they could be seen at Club 175, GJ’s in Pasadena, the Park Lounge, Rhapsody, and a stint as house band for Bojangles in Glen Burnie.
Jeffries left the band around 1977 later becoming a member of Bite the Bullet. Eminizer became involved in numerous projects over the years including appearances as saxophonist with OHO / Food for Worms, Rosco… Lawrence and Schisler went on to play in the variety band Bottom’s Up. Papenberg was later with the B-Town Allstars, the Depot… Papenberg and Hoyle were members of the Robert Allen Blues Band in the ‘00s…
