Dameans’ History Preserved Through Donation to Archives

For a few glorious hours, the 1970s briefly returned, in the unlikely venue of the lobby of the Diocesan Archives & Records Center.

Perhaps thankfully, there was not a leisure suit on the premises, a CB radio was not required for directions, no fingers were sporting a mood ring, no 8-track blaring “Staying Alive” and nary a pet rock was to be found

But the ‘70s came alive through the Dameans, a widely popular Christian music band that enjoyed a decade-long run from 1968-78. Founded by four seminarians at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, hence the name, the band recorded 14 albums, wrote a nationally syndicated music column for Catholic News Service and even once filled up half of a football stadium in New Hampshire for a concert.

On a recent Friday morning, the group gathered at the archives building to donate much of their memorabilia that had been collected through the year. The donations included one of each of the group’s albums, along with studio tapes, master recordings, countless photos, copies of the syndicated music column called Life in Music and many other items.

“We donated all of the stuff different individuals have been keeping for years,” said Darryl Ducote, director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Baton Rouge and an original member of the Dameans. 

“This is super cool,” Ann Boltin, archivist for the diocese, said. “It is one of the coolest collections we have.”

“We donated all of the stuff different individuals have been keeping for years.” 

Darryl Ducote

Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Baton Rouge and an original member of the Dameans. 

Vicar General Father Tom Ranzino originally approached Ducote about donating the memorabilia. Several years ago, Father Ranzino was participating as a consultant to the Bishops Committee on Divine Worship when well-known composer Father Michael Joncas mentioned that he sends a copy of every piece he has composed to a priest in another country who is in charge of his composition archives to project his composition rights and make sure his catalogue will not be lost. 

Father Ranzino said he immediately thought of the Dameans and suggested to Ducote approach the diocesan archives department. 

“It’s my thought that the Dameans’ archiving would, like Fr. Joncas, preserve  their music as part of the history of the development of the  liturgy in the United States for a significant period of history,”     Father Ranzino said. 

“Nobody else had even mentioned it to me,” Ducote said. 

He said the Archdiocese of New Orleans was initially approached, which seemed natural since the band was borne out of the seminarians playing music for the seminary Mass. But the archdiocese appeared somewhat uninterested, he said, so New Orleans’ loss has become Baton Rouge’s treasure. 

“(Boltin) was thrilled to get it and was wonderful to us,” Ducote said. “She will decide what will be appropriate to use.”

More than the donations, however, Ducote said the day was a time to gather with former bandmates, relive memories, share laughs and reflect on what was an unlikely rise to stardom. Ducote was joined at the archives building by Gary Ault, Buddy Caesar and Mike Balhoff. 

Gary Daigle, who joined the band a bit later, lives in Chicago and was unable to attend. 

“It was a fun time to get together,” Ducote said. “It stirred up a lot of memories as we were looking through pictures, looking through articles. Everybody remembers slightly different things so it was culling all of those things to mind.

“It was a really a beautiful walk down memory lane and to appreciate the gift that was the group.”

Ducote said the stardom they achieved, even as they continued to tour after their ordinations, was never planned nor their ambition. Rather, he said “it just grew by God’s design.”

Ducote, a native of Cottonport who was ordained by Bishop Robert E. Tracy at St. Mary of False River Church in New Roads, in 1971, said some of his most memorable moments were in the recording studio. During those sessions, the band brought in a string section from the New Orleans Symphony to add an extra flavor to their already inspiring music.

“When the strings would come in, the hair on your arms stood up,” he said. “It was incredible to hear your music developed to that extent with the orchestration. The simple little song you play on your guitar suddenly became symphonic.”

“To be in a studio and create music like that is just unbelievable. I don’t know of too many experiences in my life that would equal that.”

After leaving the archives building the group gathered at a Baton Rouge restaurant to recall what was a special time of their lives.

“I was super excited when (Ducote) came to me with the idea,” Boltin said. “It means a lot to the diocese to have this collection.”

She said that at some point a researcher will likely be seeking information on the history of what was one of the unique and popular bands during an evolving musical landscape. And thanks to the Dameans’ donation, “everything will be right here,” Boltin said.