Rockin' Dopsie
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rockin' Dopsie (February 10, 1932 – August 26, 1993) was born Alton Rubin in Carencro, Louisiana. He was a leading Zydeco musician and button accordion player who enjoyed popular success first in Europe and later in the United States. If Clifton Chenier was the king of zydeco music, Rockin' Dopsie (pronounced doopsie) with his unequalled proficiency on the button accordion was its crown prince.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Career
He took his stage name from a Chicago dancer who had come to perform in Lafayette, Louisiana.[2]
Dopsie recorded his debut album with Sam Charters for Sweden's Sonet label. Over the next decade, Dopsie recorded five more albums for the label. Released in Europe, Dopsie soon became a popular performer. He began touring Europe twice annually in 1979. It was not until well into the 1980s that Dopsie's music began garnering attention back home. His U.S. career got a big boost in 1985 when he recorded "That Was Your Mother" with Paul Simon on the latter's Graceland album. Later, Dopsie would also record with other pop singers including Cyndi Lauper and Bob Dylan. He has also appeared in a few films, including Delta Heat.
Dopsie's first language was Louisiana Creole French, and he spread the Creole culture throughout the world by his music.
Since Dopsie's death from heart failure in 1993, his band, The Twisters, continues to perform; now led by his son Dopsie Jr., accordionist, vocalist and washboard player, with another son Alton Jr., on drums. He was also related to Chanda Rubin, who is a current tennis star.
[edit] Quotation
"I'm the only man in the world that plays the accordion upside-down," Rockin' Dopsie used to claim. "It's all because daddy didn't taught me how to play. I just picked it up."[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ All Music Guide biography
- ^ All Music Guide biography
- ^ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited, p. 160. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
