Rockin' Dopsie

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Rockin' Dopsie


Img_capt = The cover for Rokin' Dopsie's "Crowned Prince of Zydeco" (Maison de Soul)
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Alton Rubin
Born = 10 February 1932
Birth_place = Carencro, Louisiana. USA
Died = 26 August 1993
death_place =
Instrument = Accordian, Singing
Genre = Zydeco
Occupation = Musician, Composer, Singer, Artist
Years_active = 1970 – 1992
Label = Sonet
Associated_acts =
spouse =
parents =
children = Dopsie Jr., Alton Jr.

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. [ [http://wc09.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wbfrxql5ldde~T1 All Music Guide biography] ]

Career

He took his stage name from a Chicago dancer who had come to perform in Lafayette, Louisiana. [ [http://wc09.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wbfrxql5ldde~T1 All Music Guide biography] ]

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.

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."cite book
first= Tony
last= Russell
year= 1997
title= The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray
edition=
publisher=Carlton Books Limited
location= Dubai
pages= p. 160
id= ISBN 1-85868-255-X]

elected Discography

*"Crowned Prince Of Zydeco" (Maison de Soul)
*"Doin' the Zydeco" (1976, Sonet SNTF 718)
*"Zy-de-Bliue - Rockin' Dopsie and the Twisters Play the Blues" (1977, Sonet SNTF 761)

ee also

*List of folk musicians
*Long Beach Blues Festival
*San Francisco Blues Festival
* [http://www.rockindopsie.com/ Rockin' Dopsie Jr.]

References