Alton Jay Rubin (February 10, 1932 – August 26, 1993), who performed as Rockin' Dopsie (sometimes Rockin' Dupsee), was an American zydeco singer and accordion player who had success first in Europe and later in the United States. He played accordion on "That Was Your Mother" on Paul Simon's album Graceland (1986).

Biography He was born in Carencro, Louisiana, the son of Walter Rubin, who played accordion at local dances. Alton Rubin's first language was Louisiana Creole French. He was given his first accordion at the age of 14, and, being left-handed, learned to play it upside down. He began performing at local parties, and soon outstripped his father's abilities. He moved with his parents to Lafayette, Louisiana at the age of 19, and began playing in clubs in the mid-1950s with his cousin Chester Zeno on washboard. He took his stage name from a visiting dancer called Doopsie (and pronouncing his own name the same way). At the same time, he continued with his day job, eventually becoming an electrical contractor.

Dopsie played music for dancing, assimilating R&B influences into zydeco and sometimes covering R&B hits in a zydeco style. He performed around Louisiana, and recorded occasionally for small independent labels in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1976 he appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and was signed by the Swedish record label Sonet, who issued his first album, Doin' The Zydeco, in 1976. Starting in 1979, he toured Europe regularly with his group, the Twisters, and his popularity there led to him recording a string of albums for Sonet in the late 1970s and early 1980s. "Rockin' Dopsie", Donald Clarke Music. Retrieved 26 November 2016

In the 1980s, he started to gain attention in the US. He played accordion on the zydeco-influenced song "That Was Your Mother" on Paul Simon's Graceland album in 1986. He recorded the album Crowned Prince Of Zydeco in 1987. His final album in 1991, Louisiana Music, received a Grammy Award nomination. "Rockin' Dopsie, 61, A Master of Zydeco With His Own Style", The New York Times, August 27, 1993. Retrieved 26 November 2016 Dopsie also recorded with Bob Dylan and Cyndi Lauper, and in 1992 appeared in the film Delta Heat. He died from a heart attack in 1993, aged 61, and was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Lafayette.

Personal life Dopsie was Catholic.

Legacy Since his death, his band, The Twisters, has continued to perform. Now led by his son Dopsie Jr. (accordionist, vocalist and washboard player), with sons Alton Jr. ("Tiger") on drums, and Anthony Rubin on accordion, the band is called Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters. Dopsie's younger son Dwayne also plays accordion and leads his own band, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers.

Dopsie was related to professional tennis championship player Chanda Rubin.

Quotation

"I'm the only man in the world that plays the accordion upside-down," Rockin' Dopsie said. "It's all because daddy didn't taught me how to play. I just picked it up."

Discography Studio and live albums Album title Record label Stock number Release yearDoin' the ZydecoSonetSNTF 7181976Rockin' Dopsie & The TwistersRounder (licensed from Sonet)60121977Zy-De-BlueSonetSNTF 7611978Hold OnSonetSNTF 8001979GNP CrescendoGNPS 21561983Big Bad ZydecoSonetSNTF 8511980French StyleSonetSNTF 8721981Rockin' Dupsee (The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions, vol. 30, recorded 1970–74)Flyright (U.K.)FLY-5921983Good Rockin' SonetSNTF-9051983GNP CrescendoGNPS-21671984Crowned Prince of ZydecoSonetSNTF 9821986Maison de SoulMdS-10201986Saturday Night ZydecoSonetSNTCD 10031988Maison de SoulLP-1025 / MdS-CD-1041988 (re-released on CD in 1989)Zy-De-Co-In' SonetSNTCD 10351989Gazell ProductionsGCCD 30031989Clifton Chenier & Rockin' DupseeFlyrightFLYCD 171989Paula RecordsPCD-171991Louisiana MusicAtlantic82307-21991Rockin' Dopsie and The Zydeco Twisters In New OrleansStoryvilleSTCD 80522001

Singles and EPs Song title(s) Album title Record label Stock number Release year Note(s)"Please Come Back Home" / "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You"<unknown>Blues Unlimited Records200119747-inch, 45 RPM"Hold On (To That Tiger)" / "Baby Bye Bye"Hold OnBlues Unlimited201319797-inch, 45 RPM"My Baby She's Gone" / "Ma Negresse" / "Lucille"<unknown>SonetSON 219119797-inch EP, 45 RPM"My Baby She's Gone" / "Opelousas Waltz"<unknown>Blues Unlimited201619807-inch, 45 RPM"Oh Negresses" / "Sweetest Thing In The World"<unknown>Blues Unlimited1000<unknown>7-inch, 45 RPM"Woman I Don't Want Your Troubles" / "Things I Used To Do"<unknown>Blues Unlimited2000<unknown>7-inch, 45 RPM"I Need Your Love" / "A Lil' Bon Temps"<unknown>Bon Temps Records45-6801<unknown>Side A vocals by Gene Morris; 7-inch, 45 RPM"Pushin' & Pullin' " / "Who's Loving You Tonite"<unknown>Bon Temps45-6802<unknown>7-inch, 45 RPM"Hound Dog" / "Shopick Two Step"<unknown>Maison de SoulMDS-1016<unknown>7-inch, 45 RPM

Various artist compilation albums

Album title Record label Stock number Release year Song title(s) Zydeco BluesFlyright (U.K.)LP 5391978"Blues"Louisiana Explosive BluesMaison de SoulLP-10061981"Who's Loving You Tonite"Zydeco Blues, vol. 2: The Legendary Jay Miller SessionsFlyright (U.K.)FLY 6001984"You Told Me""Run Here To Me Baby""Sweetest Thing In The World"Louisiana BluesJin Records; Ace (U.K.)CH 2111987"Who's Loving You Tonite"Zydeco FestivalMaison de SoulMdS LP 1024; MdS-CD-1011988"Old Time Zydeco"Kings of Zydeco: Black Creole Music from the Deep SouthTrikont (Germany)CD-0158-21989"Who's Loving You""Pushin' & Pullin' "Rockin' AccordionFlyrightFLY 6221989"Everyday I Have The Blues"101 Proof ZydecoMaison de SoulMDS 10301989"Dopsie's Cajun Stomp"Alligator StompRhinoR2 709461990"Colinda""Old Time Zydeco"Sea of Love: Louisiana Bayou Hits, 1950's-1960'sP-Vine Records (Japan)PCD-21371990"Who's Lovin' You Tonight?"Swamp Stomp!: a Cajun and Zydeco SamplerRounderPR-10021990<unknown>Alligator Stomp: Cajun & Zydeco Classics, Vol. 2RhinoR2 707401991"Mardi Gras in New Orleans"Cajun & Zydeco Mardi Gras!Maison de SoulMdS CD-10441992"Mardi Gras in New Orleans"Zydeco PartyAce (UK.); Swallow RecordsCDCHD 4301992"Dopsie's Cajun Stomp""Shake Rattle and Roll"C.T. Gator Presents A Zydeco Dance PartyGNP CrescendoGNPD 22201993"Zydeco Round The World""They All Ask For You""Ay-Te-Te-Fee""My Baby's She's Gone"Kings of Cajun, Vol. II: 21 More Stomps From The SwampMusic Club (U.K.)MCCD 1161993"My Baby She's Gone""Ma Negresse""Josephine"Best of Cajun Classics, Vol. II: Cajun & Zydeco's Greatest Artists Mardi Gras RecordsMG 10101994"I'm In The Mood Baby""Why You Do The Things You Do"Absolutely The Best Of Cajun & ZydecoFuel 2000; Varèse Sarabande RecordsFLD10411999"Zydeco Around The World"Absolutely The Best Of Cajun & Zydeco, vol. IIFuel 2000; Varèse Sarabande302 061 114 22000"Run Here To Me Baby"Zydeco Hot Tracks, vol. 2Maison de SoulVMS-70072002"Old Time Zydeco"Hypnotic Cajun & Obscure Zydeco 2Moi J'Connais Records (Switzerland)MJCR0292015"Doin' The Zydeco"

Guest appearance credits

Album title Artist(s) Record label Stock number Release year InstrumentReadyThe Blues BandAristaBB21980accordionThe Blowin' ManJohn HartSonetSNTF 8441981accordionGracelandPaul SimonWarner Bros.9 25447–21986accordionA Night To RememberCyndi LauperEpicEK 443181989accordionOh MercyBob DylanColumbiaCK 452811989accordion

See also List of folk musicians Long Beach Blues Festival San Francisco Blues Festival

References

External links

Rockin Dopsie at 45cat.com