1755 (band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Founder | Kenneth Saulnier, Pierre Robichaud, Roland Gauvin, Donald Boudreau, Ronald Dupuis |
| Defunct | 1984 (ceased activities) |
| Headquarters | New Brunswick , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
1755 (spoken as seventeen fifty-five) is an Acadian musical group formed in 1975 by Kenneth Saulnier, Pierre Robichaud, Roland Gauvin, Donald Boudreau, and Ronald Dupuis.
History
The band's name references the Great Deportation of 1755, symbolizing Acadie's evolution into the contemporary era and the emergence of Acadian cultural pride and identity. Acadian poet Herménégilde Chiasson characterized them as "far beyond a mere band," describing their work as "the voice of a generation" and a "reflection of a time marked by tension and self-assertion." Recognized as a cornerstone of modern Acadian culture, 1755 played a pivotal role in introducing Acadian music to the global stage and inspired artists such as Fayo and Dominique Dupuis.
Although the band officially ceased activities in 1984, they have reunited occasionally for concerts and summer tours, particularly during Acadian festivities like National Acadian Day. One significant appearance was at the Moncton Coliseum for the inaugural Acadian World Congress in 1994; this event was captured on their live album Les retrouvailles de la famille and made available on VHS and DVD. They also conducted a tour across New Brunswick in 2009.
Following their disbandment, members embarked on individual musical paths: Gauvin became part of Les Méchants Maquereaux, released a solo record in 2005, and collaborated on the soundtrack of a 1995 documentary about the Acadian deportation; Saulnier launched Heritage in 2001; Robichaud produced solo albums in 1998 and 2004; Dupuis established the Glamour Puss Blues Band.
As of 2025, 1755 has declared intentions to hold their final concert scheduled for October.
Musical style
The sound of 1755 merges elements of folk, country, and rock, incorporating traditional folk lyrics, original compositions by the band members, or poetry by Acadian writer Gérald Leblanc. The majority of their songs are performed in the southeastern New Brunswick French dialect known as "chiac", with some tracks delivered in English.
Albums
- 1755, 1978, Presqu'île Records
- Vivre à la Baie, 1979, Presqu'île Records
- Synergie, 1982, Le Barachois
- Les retrouvailles de la famille, Live Au Colisée De Moncton, 1994, ISBA Music Entertainment
- Yousque T'es Rendu? (reissue of Synergie), 1999, ISBA Music Entertainment
- Anthologie, 2012, Independent
EPs and singles
- "Le Monde A Bien Changé" / "Le Monde Qu'on Connait", 1978, Presqu'île Records
- "C.B Buddie" / "Hallo Joe", 1978, Presqu'île Records
- "Je T'Aime" / "Disco Banjo", 1979, Presqu'île Records
Awards and honors
- At the 2008 East Coast Music Awards, 1755 was honored with the Dr Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their substantial impact on regional music.