The Dameans

The Dameans were a group of Catholic musicians who rose to prominence in the folk music era of the 1970s.^[2] They began as seminarians at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana; they formed in 1967^[3].

The group was originally composed of Darryl Ducote, Mike Balhoff, Dave Baker, Buddy Ceaser, and Gary Ault. All contributed to vocals, with Darryl, Buddy, and Gary singing lead on most songs. All of these men contributed to the songwriting. Darryl, Buddy, and Gary frequently wrote lyrics and music for their songs. Mike is more of a lyricist and worked often as a co-writer with Darryl. Though they only played their own instruments on their first album, they are mainly guitarists (Darryl, Buddy, and Gary) with Mike playing upright bass and Dave adding tambourine. On all albums after "Tell The World", studio musicians have been used.^[4]

Following the 1971 "Walk To The Gloryland" album, Dave Baker left the group. The reasons for his departure are not documented publicly.

Around 1978, a young Gary Daigle joined the group with the release of "Remember Your Love." Gary Daigle played keyboards and guitar, as well as taking an active role in songwriting.^[5]

By the early 1980s, along with such groups as the St. Louis Jesuits, The Dameans' music "dominate[d] the publications scene" in contemporary Catholic liturgical music.^[6] As part of the "second phase" of post-Conciliar Catholic folk music, the Dameans' songs reflected attention to liturgical and Biblical texts, and several were represented in the original Glory and Praise hymnals, Volume 2 of 1979 and Volume 3, 1981.^[7] Their most popular songs included Look Beyond^[8] and All That We Have.

The Dameans performed together on stage at a conference in 2012. This performance included Gary Daigle on keyboards, acoustic guitar, and backing vocals. Darryl leads the group in a never-recorded novelty Christmas song that he wrote in the early 1970's for a friend of his who enjoyed country music.^[9]

Discography

• Tell The World (1969) - F.E.L. Publications, recorded at Woodland Studios, Nashville, TN - recorded entirely in one day, with the members contributing acoustic guitars, upright bass, and tambourine.
• Songs of the New Creation (1970) - F.E.L. Publications, recorded at Paragon Studios, Chicago, IL - this recording and all the follow used studio musicians.
• Walk To That Gloryland (1971) - F.E.L. Publications, recorded at RCA Studios, Los Angeles, CA
• Beginning Today (1973) - TeleKetics, recorded at TTG Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Israel Baker, concert master
• Day of The Son (1976) - North American Liturgy Resources, recorded at Sea-Saint Studios, New Orleans, LA
• Remember Your Love (1978) - North American Liturgy Resources, recorded at Sea-Saint Studios, New Orleans, LA
• Sing Out His Goodness (1979) - North American Liturgy Resources
• Path Of Life (1981) - North American Liturgy Resources
• Reflections, Vol. 1 (1982) - North American Liturgy Resources (instrumental arrangements of Damean songs)
• Morning to Night (1984) - North American Liturgy Resources
• Reflections, Vol. 2 (1985) - North American Liturgy Resources (instrumental arrangements of Damean songs)
• Light In The Darkness (1986) - North American Liturgy Resources; contemporary songs for the Advent and Christmas season
• Reflections, Vol. 3 (1986) - North American Liturgy Resources (instrumental arrangements of Damean songs)
• Intermissions (1988) - North American Liturgy Resources
• Reflections, Vol. 4 (1991) - GIA Publications (instrumental arrangements of Damean songs, Gary Daigle plays all instruments on this recording)
• Psalms For The Church Year, Volume VI (1993) - GIA Publications; Dameans participate as songwriters and vocals on their songs; other authors on this recording)
• Child of God (1995) - GIA Publications; one new song by Gary Ault; children join the Dameans in re-recordings of their songs.

References