Rockin' Dopsie

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.

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).

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. Dopsie also recorded with Bob Dylan and Cyndi Lauper, and in 1992 appeared in the film Delta Heat.

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), 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

Singles and EPs

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-10021990Alligator 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