The Aliminators came from the Cumberland, Maryland area in the west of the state. Members included:
Bill Atkinson – guitar
Jack Atkinson – guitar
Dick Atkinson – organ
Johnny Allen – drums, replaced by Ike Logsdon
Buddy French – lead vocals
They released one single in 1965 on the Response label that is the best record I’ve picked up in months. “Let Down” is a solid piece of R&B with group vocals, a great scream and two sharp guitar breaks over steady drumming and a somewhat murky production.
The Cumberland Evening Times ran a photo and profile of the group on Saturday, January 9, 1965. Unfortunately I don’t have digital access to the paper at this time to get the photo that ran with the text.
Several rock and roll bands have been formed in this area recently and one of the more popular ones is the Aliminators. Members of the Aliminators are Bill Atkinson, leader of the group, his two brothers Dick and Jark Atkinson, and Johnny Allen. Bill Atkinson formed the musical group in September when he returned to his home in Clarysville after spending three years in the army. While in the service in Germany, he played with an English band and toured Europe with the group while on leave.
He purchased the organ shown in the picture above while in the service and said the instrument is unique in this section in that no rock and roll band in the section uses one. The organ is played by Dick Atkinson who resides in the LaVale, and Bill and his brother, Jack play guitars. Johnny Allen, of the Frostburg area, plays the drums.
The other members of the Aliminators played with other area bands prior to joining the group and Bill Atkinson also played with Sonny James.
The group is presently playing at the Ridgeley Fire Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays and at the Top Spot on North Mechanic Street on Saturday nights. It also appears at the University Snack Bar in Frostburg. The Aliminators plan to make a recording in the next few months in Washington, where they also plan to make several appearances.
The membership of the band changed between this article and the recording session, with Buddy French coming in on lead vocals and Ike Logsdon replacing Johnny Allen on drums.
Bill Atkinson wrote “Let Down”, published with Cinco Music, BMI, though I can find no record of it with the Library of Congress. I don’t know of any other releases on Response Records. The flip was the Ed Townshend ballad, “For Your Love”.
