From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Mon Feb 10, 2003  6:18 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Rockin' Dopsie
 
ROCKIN' DOPSIE (By Phil Davies)

Born Alton Rubin, 10 February 1932, Carencro, Louisiana
Died 26 August 1993, Opelousas, Louisiana

Born in the countryside outside Lafayette, he spent much of his childhood
picking cotton and working in the cane fields. His father played accordion
and performed at local weekend house parties. He frequently brought his
son along. His father gave him his first small accordion when he was 14.
He then told his son that he must teach himself. A lefty, he played the
accordion upside down, learning tunes off the radio. It didn't take long
before he began playing parties and gaining a reputation as an even better
musician than his father.
He began playing Zydeco in the late 50s, taking his accordion to the small
rural juke joints and clubs. His pal Chester Zeno played the washboard
alongside him. Alton's energetic live act gained him the name Rockin' Dopsie
(pronounced Doopsie). Despite the plethora of small local labels Alton
didn't record until 1968, when Zydeco became popular again.
The word zydeco is derived from the French les haricots (which translated
means string beans), and which is pronounced "lay zah ree' co." One
supposes that this music must have been played during the harvesting of
the bean crop. Little by little, "zah ree' co" evolved into zydeco. Zydeco
music is a bubbling, melodic gumbo concocted from Cajun/Acadian music,
Afro-Caribbean rhythms and melodies, and blues.
Dopsie made unsuccessful singles for Floyd Soileau's Bon Temps and Jay
Miller's Blues Unlimited labels. He was signed by European label Sonet in
1976. He cut albums in several locations for producer Sam Charters. He
became an attraction on the US college circuit and got an invite to tour
Europe in 1979. He was backed by the twisters, featuring Clifton Chenier's
former sax man John Hart. European critics were impressed by the tight
band and the energetic stage act. The 80s saw a revival of interest in
American roots music and Dopsie remained a popular live act, both at
home and in Europe.
Following Chenier's death in 1987 Dopsie and Buckwheat Zydeco vied for
the zydeco throne. Dopsie appeared on Paul Simon's multi million selling
roots styled album, Graceland. He also palyed with Bob Dylan and Cyndi
Lauper and appeared in a few US tv ads.He recorded for Rounder and Maison
De Soul. He received his own Grammy nomination for his last album Louisiana
Music in 1991.
Dopsie stopped rocking on August 26th 1993. His son, Rockin' Dopsie
Jnr, carries on the family tradition, playing washboard with his pop's old
band.

Recommended listening:
the Sonet albums, esp Doin' The Zydeco
Louisiana Music - Atlantic (features SAO favs Keep A Knockin, Things I Used
To Do and Since I Met You Baby).