Biography
Dwayne Rubin — known professionally as Dwayne Dopsie — was born March 3, 1979, in Lafayette, Louisiana, the youngest of eight children of zydeco legend Rockin' Dopsie Sr. Growing up steeped in the music of southwest Louisiana's Creole communities, he first picked up a washboard at age six and switched to accordion at seven. Self-taught by repeatedly watching videos of his father and zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier, he honed his craft obsessively — recording himself on video camera, rewinding, and practicing until each phrase was locked in. As a young child, he even shared the stage with his father at a Super Bowl halftime performance. When Rockin' Dopsie Sr. passed away in 1993, Dwayne made the decision to drop out of high school and dedicate himself fully to carrying on the family's musical legacy.
In 1999, at just nineteen years old, Dwayne formed the Zydeco Hellraisers and that same year was crowned "America's Hottest Accordionist" by the American Accordion Association. Though deeply rooted in traditional zydeco, he forged a high-energy sound that pulls from rock and roll, rhythm and blues, blues, and reggae — earning him the title "the Jimi Hendrix of the accordion" from Rolling Stone magazine. The band became fixtures at marquee Louisiana festivals, playing Jazz Fest over 20 consecutive times, and toured internationally across the United States, Canada, and China. In 2022, they shared in a Grammy Award win for Best Music Film for their featured role in the documentary "Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story."
Dwayne Dopsie's career reached a landmark moment at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival when he joined the Rolling Stones on stage for a fiery accordion solo on "Let It Bleed" — marking the song's tour debut in that arrangement. Beyond his festival work, he has racked up more than 20 Offbeat and Big Easy Music Awards, cementing his position as one of the foremost torchbearers of contemporary zydeco. The Dopsie name, carried by Dwayne alongside his brothers in their respective bands, remains one of the most enduring dynasties in Louisiana Creole music.
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Fun Facts
- Rolling Stone magazine dubbed him 'the Jimi Hendrix of the accordion' for his explosive, boundary-pushing performance style.
- As a child, he performed with his father Rockin' Dopsie Sr. at a Super Bowl halftime show — before he was even a teenager.
- In 2024, he joined the Rolling Stones on stage at Jazz Fest for 'Let It Bleed,' marking the song's first performance with accordion accompaniment on that tour.
- He won the Grammy for Best Music Film in 2022 for the documentary 'Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story,' adding a Grammy to over 20 Offbeat and Big Easy Music Awards.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Rockin' Dopsie Sr. - Father and primary musical influence; Dwayne taught himself accordion by watching videos of his father's performances and grew up performing with him [1980s–1993]
- Clifton Chenier - Zydeco founding father whose recordings Dwayne studied alongside his father's videos while teaching himself accordion [1980s]
Key Collaborators
- Rolling Stones - Dwayne and the Zydeco Hellraisers joined the Rolling Stones on stage at Jazz Fest 2024, with Dopsie performing an accordion solo on 'Let It Bleed'
- Irma Thomas - Performed alongside Dopsie as a guest with the Rolling Stones at New Orleans Jazz Fest 2024
- Corey Ledet - Collaborated on the Grammy-nominated album 'Nothin' But the Best' (2013), nominated for Best Regional Roots Music Album
- Anthony Dopsie - Brother and fellow zydeco artist; collaborated on 'Nothin' But the Best' album
- Andre Thierry - Zydeco accordionist who collaborated on 'Nothin' But the Best' album alongside Dwayne
Connection Network
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.