The Beaton Institute is a cultural heritage archive mandated to preserve the social, economic, political and cultural history of Cape Breton Island.

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The Acadians was a dance orchestra very popular on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia from the mid 1950s through the mid 1960s. The founder, band leader and driving force was Aldun MacVicar.
All band members had day jobs but often played several nights a week - at the Silver Rail, the Isle Royal Hotel, the KOC Hall, the YMCA, Spain's Dancehall in Mira and at various venues around the island.


Band members, over the years:
Gerry Budden (drums)
Bryant Cann (drums)
Alex Caume (drums)
Gerard Coleman (alto sax)
Sam Dubinsky (sax, clarinet)
Bob Ferguson (piano)
George Gregar (trumpet)
Bev Jones (vocals)
Gordie LeDrew (bass)
Dave MacDonald (trumpet)
Eric MacDonald (drums)
Mike MacDonald (piano)
Robbie MacDonald (piano)
Alex MacIntosh (bass, vocals)
Robbie MacLeod (trombone)
Aldun MacVicar (alto sax, clarinet & band leader)
Lorna (Whitney) MacVicar (vocals)
Eldridge Morgan (trumpet)
Kay (Guthro) Nearing (piano, vocals)
Blenis Pennell (tenor sax, clarinet)
Howie Pretty (trumpet)
Wes Pretty (tenor sax)
Kay (Peters) Pushie (vocals)
Vallie Scattalone (drums)

Originally the group consisted of three saxophones, trumpet, trombone, and a rhythm section of piano, bass, and drums. It soon added a second trumpet to round out the brass section. Because of its able instrumentation, the band could faithfully reproduce the old big band numbers like Glen Miller's "In The Mood" and Count Basie's "One O'Clock Jump". That, combined with the energy, enthusiasm, and arranging talents of Aldun MacVicar, who added his charts on many of the current hits of the day, is what made The Acadians the popular band it was.

These tracks were all recorded live on a mono tape recorder - most, if not all, on the Blaupunkt reel-to-reel Aldun acquired in the 50’s.  Some maybe from CJCB Radio remote broadcasts.

Aldun MacVicar was born in Broughton, Cape Breton, in 1927 and moved to Glace Bay in his teens. He formed The Pioneers, who played together in the late '40s and early '50s, and later the Royal Scotians, which eventually became The Acadians. He died in November 1986 at age 58.

Can you name those tunes I can't? Email me:
stephenmacdonald2012@gmail.com

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