Rockin' Dopsie
| Rockin' Dopsie | |
|---|---|
 The cover for Rockin' Dopsie's 1986 "Crowned Prince of Zydeco" (Maison De Soul) | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alton Rubin |
| Born | February 10, 1932 |
| Died | August 26, 1993 (aged 61) |
| Genres | Zydeco |
| Occupations | Musician, composer, singer |
| Instruments | Accordion, vocals |
| Years active | 1970–1992 |
| Labels | Sonet |
| Associated acts | Rockin' Dopsie and the Twisters |
Rockin' Dopsie (a.k.a. Rockin' Dupsee) (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.[1]
Career
Dopsie, who began performing professionally in the late 1940s, took his stage name from a Chicago dancer who had come to perform in Lafayette, Louisiana.[1]
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. On 9 January 1978 he opened for the Sex Pistols at The Kingfish in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 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 1986 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 the 1992 film Delta Heat.
Dopsie's first language was Louisiana Creole French, and he spread the Creole culture throughout the world by his music.
Death and legacy
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, as Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters.[2] Dopsie's younger son, Dwayne, also plays accordion and leads his own band, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers.[3]
Dopsie is also related to Chanda Rubin who is a professional tennis championship player .
Quotation
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My Little Girl ((sample)
 An audio sample of "My Little Girl" (from Zy De Blue, 1977)
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"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."[4]
Selected discography
- Doin' the Zydeco (1976, Sonet SNTF 718)
- Zy De Blue - Rockin' Dopsie and the Twisters Play the Blues (1977, Sonet SNTF 761)
- Rockin' Dopsie & The Twisters (1977, Rounder 6012, licensed from Sonet)
- Rockin' Dupsee (The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Vol. 30) (1983, Flyright 592, recorded 1970-74)
- Crowned Prince Of Zydeco (1986, Maison De Soul 1020)
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Allmusic biography
- ↑ Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters - website
- ↑ Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers - website
- ↑ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 160. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
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