Damian DameNew Jack Swing Hall Of Fame:
Damian Dame
Before TLC catapulted LaFace into a perennial record label, there was Damian Dame. This male/female duo, composed of Damian Broadus and Deah Dame, has the distinction of being the first act on the LaFace roster. With Babyface and L.A. Reid already being an established production team throughout much of the '80s, Damian Dame was destined for success. They didn't dissappoint, as their self-titled debut spun off two big hits, "Exclusivity" and "Right Down To It." The former is a timeless new jack delight, as the urban audience cherished their unique artistry. The latter is more of a midtempo/ballad, featuring the classic laface sound, and was overwhelmingly embraced by the urban audience as well. Other entries include the club specialty "Gotta Learn The Rhythm."
Right before a sophomore release was in the works, Deah was killed in a car crash in the spring of '94. Damian would continue producing, namely On Edge in '94, and release his solo debut in late '95 to displeased fans. Shortly thereafter, he died of colon cancer. Ironically, he died two years to the day of Deah's departure.
Damian Dame's self-titled debut is important for two reasons: it got the ball rolling for LaFace, which was still in its early stages, and it is the only musical contribution two talented musicians have together. With their untimely deaths, new jack lost a dynamic duo which will never be replicated again. When they were alive, they amassed great success and probably would have continued to do so well into the '90s.
