Rockin'Dopsie

Rockin Dopsie

& The Zydeco Twisters

When people listen tomy music, they are hearing the best This is the real thing. There are a lot of groups who are playing what they say is Zydeco, but it's more like disco or R&B. When I put the real chocolate flavor down for my audience, it shreds up all the other Zydeco bands.

The late Rockin' Dopsie, King of Zydeco Zydeco music is a bubbling, melodic gumbo concocted from Cajun Acadian music, Afro-Caribbean rhythms and melodies, and blues. Over the past few years, this funky and highly danceable music has broken out of its Southern Louisiana breeding ground to enjoy widespread popularity throughout the world.

Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. (pronounced Doop' see) & The Zydeco Twisters are the greatest living practitioners of the genre. Dopsie, Jr. presents Zydeco with the conviction and authenticity of its rich heritage. His earliest musical memories are of his father's accordion playing. Dopsie, Jr. was given a basic accordion by his father at the age of nine. He taught himself to play, as had his father, by listening to and playing along with the radio.

"I really loved that sound, but I needed more mobility so I could jump up and down and do my splits, you know. I must've inherited my love for the blues from my father 'cause I still listen to BB King, Jimmy Reed, the Vaughn Brothers and Bobby Bland, but when I was growing up, the Jackson Five, Sly Stone and James Brown were really happening." Both genres are evident in Dopsie, Jr.'s performances.

He played in several bands in his early teens, but at age 21 he was given his first rub board, a must for the authentic presentation of Zydeco. The rub board was his ticket to joining his father's band, in which he became an official member in 1982. Dopsie, Jr. was then able to play the music that he loved, plus dance like the psychedelic stars of his time.

Until Rockin' Dopsie's untimely death in 1993, the team of father and son netted them international notoriety. Today, the Zydeco Twisters' sole leader is Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. His brother, Tiger Dopsie, is the band's drum virtuoso and maintains the highly danceable beat. Anthony Dopsie, a great accordion player, replaced his father in the band, playing the button accordion in a manner similar to his father's, but with the fervor of youth.

Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters have continued to develop in their own right. The junior Dopsie is considered to be the best rub-board player in the world, and is a charismatic and electrifying stage performer. His dancing, splits, and audience participation antics make the band's performances exciting and keep audiences involved and dancing.

Besides having performed extensively on their own tours, the band has toured with Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, BB King and Jimmy Buffet. In 1987, they performed on the song "That Was Your Mother (Standing On A Corner In Lafayette, Louisiana)" which was released on Paul Simon's multi-platinum Grammy Award winning album Graceland. The band has also performed on recordings with Cindy Lauper and Bob Dylan (Oh, Mercy--1989.)

On February 26, 1994, Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters performed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC on the occasion of the presentation of the late Rockin' Dopsie's crown (he was indeed the King of Zydeco) for permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian. Rockin' Dopsie, his band, and Zydeco music were honored by this historic event as they had never been honored before.

Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters, still referred to as "Zydeco's Royal Family," have performed in Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, and many other countries of the world, as well as throughout the United States and Canada. They have performed at the most prestigious music festivals and fairs at home and abroad.The band has made television commercials for Burger King, the Louisiana Lottery, Close-up toothpaste, Community Coffee, Maalox and Danny and Clyde's. They also appeared in the movie Delta Heat which featured several tracks from their Atlantic album.

They were the house band for the Gayle King Show (the first live house band ever on Gayle's show) in January of 1998 and played with Harry Connick, Jr. at the Orpheus Ball in New Orleans during Mardi Gras '98.

Dopsie really heats things up wherever he and the band perform. Above all else, they create a high-energy, audience participation, dance 'til you drop, dynamic show! It all begins when you hear, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters."

Band instrumentation (8 pieces):

Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. (David Rubin) Rub-board and Vocals

Tiger Dopsie (Alton Rubin, Jr.) Drums and Vocals

Anthony Dopsie (Anthony Rubin) Accordion

Bass Guitar

Lead Guitar

Rhythm Guitar

Saxophone

Keyboard




				Rockin Dopsie & The Zydeco Twisters When people listen tomy music, they are hearing the best This is the real thing. There are a lot of groups who are playing what they say is Zydeco, but it's more like disco or R&B. When I put the real chocolate flavor down for my audience, it shreds up all the other Zydeco bands. The late Rockin' Dopsie, King of Zydeco Zydeco music is a bubbling, melodic gumbo concocted from Cajun Acadian music, Afro-Caribbean rhythms and melodies, and blues. Over the past few years, this funky and highly danceable music has broken out of its Southern Louisiana breeding ground to enjoy widespread popularity throughout the world. Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. (pronounced Doop' see) & The Zydeco Twisters are the greatest living practitioners of the genre. Dopsie, Jr. presents Zydeco with the conviction and authenticity of its rich heritage. His earliest musical memories are of his father's accordion playing. Dopsie, Jr. was given a basic accordion by his father at the age of nine. He taught himself to play, as had his father, by listening to and playing along with the radio. "I really loved that sound, but I needed more mobility so I could jump up and down and do my splits, you know. I must've inherited my love for the blues from my father 'cause I still listen to BB King, Jimmy Reed, the Vaughn Brothers and Bobby Bland, but when I was growing up, the Jackson Five, Sly Stone and James Brown were really happening." Both genres are evident in Dopsie, Jr.'s performances. He played in several bands in his early teens, but at age 21 he was given his first rub board, a must for the authentic presentation of Zydeco. The rub board was his ticket to joining his father's band, in which he became an official member in 1982. Dopsie, Jr. was then able to play the music that he loved, plus dance like the psychedelic stars of his time. Until Rockin' Dopsie's untimely death in 1993, the team of father and son netted them international notoriety. Today, the Zydeco Twisters' sole leader is Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. His brother, Tiger Dopsie, is the band's drum virtuoso and maintains the highly danceable beat. Anthony Dopsie, a great accordion player, replaced his father in the band, playing the button accordion in a manner similar to his father's, but with the fervor of youth. Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters have continued to develop in their own right. The junior Dopsie is considered to be the best rub-board player in the world, and is a charismatic and electrifying stage performer. His dancing, splits, and audience participation antics make the band's performances exciting and keep audiences involved and dancing. Besides having performed extensively on their own tours, the band has toured with Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, BB King and Jimmy Buffet. In 1987, they performed on the song "That Was Your Mother (Standing On A Corner In Lafayette, Louisiana)" which was released on Paul Simon's multi-platinum Grammy Award winning album Graceland. The band has also performed on recordings with Cindy Lauper and Bob Dylan (Oh, Mercy--1989.) On February 26, 1994, Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters performed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC on the occasion of the presentation of the late Rockin' Dopsie's crown (he was indeed the King of Zydeco) for permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian. Rockin' Dopsie, his band, and Zydeco music were honored by this historic event as they had never been honored before. Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters, still referred to as "Zydeco's Royal Family," have performed in Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, and many other countries of the world, as well as throughout the United States and Canada. They have performed at the most prestigious music festivals and fairs at home and abroad.The band has made television commercials for Burger King, the Louisiana Lottery, Close-up toothpaste, Community Coffee, Maalox and Danny and Clyde's. They also appeared in the movie Delta Heat which featured several tracks from their Atlantic album. They were the house band for the Gayle King Show (the first live house band ever on Gayle's show) in January of 1998 and played with Harry Connick, Jr. at the Orpheus Ball in New Orleans during Mardi Gras '98. Dopsie really heats things up wherever he and the band perform. Above all else, they create a high-energy, audience participation, dance 'til you drop, dynamic show! It all begins when you hear, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters." Band instrumentation (8 pieces): Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. (David Rubin) Rub-board and Vocals Tiger Dopsie (Alton Rubin, Jr.) Drums and Vocals Anthony Dopsie (Anthony Rubin) Accordion Bass Guitar Lead Guitar Rhythm Guitar Saxophone Keyboard