Rockin Dopsie & the Zydeco Twisters

Biography

Rockin' Dopsie, born Alton Jay Rubin on February 10, 1932, in Carencro, Louisiana, emerged as one of the founding architects of zydeco music alongside Boozoo Chavis and Clifton Chenier.[2][4] After moving to Lafayette, Louisiana at age 19, Dopsie began performing in clubs during the mid-1950s, initially playing washboard with his cousin Chester Zeno before adopting his now-iconic stage name from a visiting dancer called Doopsie.[2] His musical trajectory accelerated significantly in 1955 when he met Clifton Chenier, zydeco's most important founding father, whose mentorship proved transformative in helping Dopsie realize his full potential as a musician.[4] Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Dopsie recorded occasionally for small independent labels while maintaining his day job as an electrical contractor, but his career gained substantial momentum beginning in 1976 when he was signed by Swedish record label Sonet and released his first album, Doin' The Zydeco.[2] Starting in 1979, Dopsie toured Europe regularly with his group, the Twisters, achieving remarkable popularity abroad—notably performing before a crowd of 5,000 at the 1987 Montreux Festival despite a rainstorm.[4] His breakthrough in the American mainstream came in 1986 when he played accordion on Paul Simon's Grammy award-winning album Graceland, specifically on the track "That Was Your Mother (Standing On The Corner In Lafayette, Louisiana)."[1][2] Rockin' Dopsie passed away on August 26, 1993, but his legacy endured through his sons, with his son David (Rockin' Dopsie Jr.) continuing to lead the Zydeco Twisters and maintaining the family's status as "Zydeco's Royal Family."[1][2]

Fun Facts

• Rockin' Dopsie took his stage name from a visiting dancer called Doopsie, pronouncing his own name the same way, which became the iconic 'Dopsie' (pronounced 'Doopsie') that defined his seven-decade legacy in zydeco.[1][2]
• At the 1987 Montreux Festival, a crowd of 5,000 people braved a rainstorm to dance to Rockin' Dopsie and his Zydeco Twisters, demonstrating his remarkable popularity in Europe.[4]
• Rockin' Dopsie Jr. has been called 'The James Brown of Zydeco' and 'The Mick Jagger of the Swamps' due to his high-energy showmanship, performing dynamic stage moves including agile splits in the James Brown tradition.[1][5]
• The Rubin family's musical legacy extends beyond zydeco—Rockin' Dopsie was related to professional tennis championship player Chanda Rubin.[2]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Clifton Chenier - Zydeco's most important founding father and Dopsie's primary musical mentor who profoundly impacted his musical development (General mentorship in zydeco technique and artistry) [1955 onwards]

Key Collaborators

• Paul Simon - Collaborated on the multi-platinum Grammy award-winning album (Graceland (1986) - accordion on 'That Was Your Mother') [1986]
• The Zydeco Twisters - Rockin' Dopsie's primary backing band, later led by his son Rockin' Dopsie Jr. (All recordings and performances from 1979 onwards) [1979-1993 (Rockin' Dopsie Sr.), continuing with Rockin' Dopsie Jr.]
• Rockin' Dopsie Jr. (David Rubin) - Son who inherited the stage name and continues the family legacy as bandleader (Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters performances) [1993 onwards]
• Tiger Dopsie (Alton Rubin Jr.) - Son serving as drummer and vocalist in the Zydeco Twisters (Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters) [1993 onwards]
• Anthony Dopsie (Anthony Rubin) - Son serving as accordionist in the Zydeco Twisters (Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters) [1993 onwards]
• Dwayne Dopsie - Younger son who followed in his father's footsteps as a bandleader (Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers) [1993 onwards]

Artists Influenced

• Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters - Direct continuation and evolution of Rockin' Dopsie's musical legacy, maintaining and expanding the zydeco tradition (All contemporary performances and recordings) [1993 onwards]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. I Got Loaded (Zydeco Gone Wild)
2. Keep On Smilin (Zydeco Gone Wild)
3. Going Back to LSU (Zydeco Gone Wild)
4. Zydeco Who Dat (Zydeco Gone Wild)
5. Louise Ana (Straight from the Heart)
6. Brown Eyed Girl (Zydeco Gone Wild)
7. Bon Temps Rouler (Straight from the Heart)
8. In the Summertime (Rockin Zydeco)
9. You'll Lose A Good Thing (More Fun With Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters)
10. I'm Coming Home (More Fun With Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia