The Dameans were a group of Catholic musicians who rose to prominence in the folk music era of the 1970s. They began as seminarians at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana, having formed circa 1967. The group was originally composed of Darryl Ducote, Mike Balhoff, Dave Baker, Buddy Ceasar, 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 with Mike playing upright bass and Dave adding tambourine. On all albums after "Tell The World", studio musicians have been used. Following the 1971 "Walk To The Gloryland" album, Dave Baker left the group. According to Darryl in a recent interview, Dave bowed out of the group because the traveling was too difficult and his home was in Wisconsin. Darryl mentioned that until 1970, The Dameans spent every weekend on the road with their music ministry. After they were ordained priests, the travel reduced to once a month with the blessing of their bishops. Traveling took them to 48 states, including Hawaii and Alaska., 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. By the early 1980s, along with such groups as the St. Louis Jesuits, The Dameans' music "dominate the publications scene" in contemporary Catholic liturgical music. 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. Their most popular songs included Look Beyond 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 1970s for a friend of his who enjoyed country music.
Discography
Tell The World - 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. Ray Tate, producer for the album, added some lead guitar overdubs.
Songs of the New Creation - F.E.L. Publications, recorded at Paragon Studios, Chicago, IL - this recording and all that followed it used studio musicians.
Walk To That Gloryland - F.E.L. Publications, recorded at RCA Studios, Los Angeles, CA. The group members greatly disliked the arrangements of their songs that the producer had worked on and recorded without their input. They had very little say in how the recordings would sound. Original member David Baker left the group following this recording.
Remember Your Love - North American Liturgy Resources, recorded at Sea-Saint Studios, New Orleans, LA
Sing Out His Goodness - North American Liturgy Resources
Path Of Life - North American Liturgy Resources. This album featured songs and themes associated with the newly-founded Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
Reflections, Vol. 1 - North American Liturgy Resources
Morning to Night - North American Liturgy Resources
Reflections, Vol. 2 - North American Liturgy Resources
Light In The Darkness - North American Liturgy Resources. This albums features more contemporary songs for the Advent and Christmas season. Recorded at the former Ultrasonic Studios in New Orleans, LA.
Reflections, Vol. 3 - North American Liturgy Resources
