Darrell Lombard, and his son David were sifting through archives of old reels from various bands from the late 60’s to the early 80’s that he had been an intricate part of before they would become obsolete. The music from his band STREAMS stood out, of their last night performing at the new Black Angus Lounge, in Everett Washington. This was prior to the band touring locations in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, British Columbia and Alberta.

This music is not only iconic for those times, but it also includes material that most people today have never heard from this special collection of artists. STREAMS were a masterful NW based 5-piece band, who could create a soulful sound greater than their actual size while all in their natural prime. They sang and played with passion and had swagger with a night in and night out commitment to excellence over a 5-year span or so before life circumstances split up the group. 

This band was led by and featured the NW known music artist Darrell Michael Lombard (from the legendary Garfield High School, in Seattle, WA). 

Darrell’s family is from Algiers, New Orleans, where they have deep and important historical jazz and ragtime musical roots. His Father was Louis Lombard, his mother was Lucille Douroux-Lombard, and his siblings included Chermaine, Leonella, Randall, Lawrence, and Mona, who were all born there. His mother Lucille and her parents and sister Dolly were musicians. 

Lucille's father Louis Douroux played the trumpet/cornet and was a member of the Eureka and Excelsior 2nd line band, and a Pickwick Band member, in New Orleans. Her mother Olivia Manetta-Douroux played the trumpet, piano and violin. Her brother was the legendary Manuel “Fess” Manetta (Oct 3, 1889 - Oct 10, 1969). 

Her Uncle Manuel mastered playing the piano, violin, guitar, as well as the cornet, trumpet, and saxophone. He played live and in difficult festive venues, anything from riverboat whorehouses to popular land venues in every setting imaginable. 

Manuel was one of the first and few musicians to play the Trumpet and the Trombone at the same time.  

They came from a family of brass players. Manuel dedicated much of his music career to teaching and mentoring. He had no children, so he took to his nieces and nephews as his own during free time. Darrell’s mother Lucille and her sister Odalie M. “Dolly” Douroux Adams, took piano lessons from their Uncle Manuel. 

Dolly (piano) is a multi-instrumentalist who played with Manuel Manetta’s band at the early age of just 13. She had a band with her sons. Her son Justin was on the guitar and banjo, Placide Jr was on drums and bass, and Gerald played bass and piano too. 

Her brother Lawrence played trumpet, piano and drums. Her other brother Irving played trombone. Her sister Amelia was a singer who had a hand in starting the choir at All Saints Catholic Church in the early 1920s, where Lucille played piano. 

All were prominent musicians in the New Orleans music scene as well and made quite a name for themselves in those days. 

Louis and Lucille, migrated with their five children to Bremerton, WA, in the 1940s where Darrell was born in 1945. They moved so his father Louis Lombard could find solid employment at the shipyards for a better quality of life for his family, in which he accomplished. 

Louis preferred the city life and found employment as a corporate window washer managing the Medical Dental Building and the great Smith Tower account, which was the tallest building in the city at that time. 

He was the first black man in the city to wash windows at the corporate level. Louis was the backbone and provider of their family. 

While Darrell was in the 8th grade, Darrell performed in front of his school in the school auditorium while singing behind a piano, an original song he wrote called Darling. That performance was recorded and entered into a national talent contest, where he won first place. This was a big deal. 

Throughout high school Darrell would actively sing in his school choir while privately working on his craft. Darrell transitioned from the piano to Lucille’s Lowrey organ that was also in his home. He found it more interesting. 

One day he was able to go to a jam session at a local artists house by the name of Ron Buford, who was a monster on the Hammond B3. This was the first time he saw that instrument live, and he knew instantly that was what he wanted to play. Darrell was so motivated that he went out and bought the lesser Hammond B2 (no percussion), and a matching Leslie speaker, charged to his parent’s credit account. He was so excited when it arrived. When his father Louis found out he was forced to return it all of course. 

Seeing the local and soulful Dave Lewis behind the B3, singing, and playing live with supporting singers like Patty Allen and guitar player Rich Dangle at Dave’s 5thAve, downtown Seattle, also inspired Darrell. 

Lucille was a masterful piano player who always kept an active piano in her home. Darrell was the youngest of 6 siblings and while growing up he would gravitate to the piano where he learned from his mother. 

Darrell struggled early on with dyslexia, which was a condition not understood in those days, which set him back. He was a natural talent blessed with the ability to learn musical pieces by ear quickly which would offset his struggles with reading. This still added some challenges later. 

In the 8th Grade, Darrell’s best friend Mike McGough convinced Darrell and his parents to remove him from public school to attend the controversial Catholic based, Briscoe Memorial Boys School. This was a much more disciplined and focused environment for his development which Darrell regretted from the very first day he attended. 

Briscoe was known for having talented students that they would showcase to the public through talent-based performances to raise funds for charity or their personal needs and agenda.

Darrell’s greatest musical influence was his mother Lucille Douroux-Lombard. Lucille was looking for a Catholic based home for her kid’s church and education and first ended up at St. Joseph Catholic church from the 1940s through the mid 1950s. 

Darrell and his brother’s attended St. Joseph (all boys), and his sisters went to Holy Names (all girls) grade schools prior to Darrell attending Briscoe Boys School in the 8th grade. They continued mass there through the 1960s. 

During the World’s Fair in Seattle in 1962, Lucille's “Uncle Manuel,” was touring Seattle for a concert and wanted to reunite with Lucille and family. Darrell had the privilege of meeting uncle Manuel and his violinist in person at their home and was able to observe and learn pointers from him on Lucille’s home piano. 

This was just enough to leave a lasting impression of family pride and lineage. Darrell was attending Garfield High School during that time.

Lucille was the backbone to a long tenure of leadership extending through her children and grandchildren which included Chermaine Lombard-Hayes (Choir Conductor), and her children John (Ricky) Hayes (lead guitar), Gordon Hayes (bass), Cathy Hayes (Lucille’s official page turner), Jason Hayes (guitar), and niece Sheila Hayes (chorister). 

Lucille’s oldest son Randall Lombard who was gifted with a big angelic voice (Lead Chorister). His daughters Adeline Lombard (chorister), Christine (Tina) Lombard (chorister and successor after learning piano from Lucille) and Jocelyn Lombard (chorister). Her son Lawrence Lombard (chorister) and his daughter April Lombard (chorister).

Lucille had the gift of leading and impacting the Catholic choir’s musical praise arrangements. Immaculate Conception Church, was and still is located in the heart of the black community in the Central District of Seattle. 

This was the first church of its kind in the Seattle area for the black Catholic community, with Lucille’s New Orleans styled influence behind her piano as Choir Director.