"The Crowned Prince of Zydeco" (according to the title of one of his early cassettes), Rockin' Dopsie might never have eclipsed Clifton Chenier, but he sure knew how to party:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a_0BAW71E8
and I bet you won't forget that melody for awhile! Rockin' Dopsie (born Alton Rubin in Carencro, LA, in 1932) spread the gospel of zydeco around the world. He never really achieved "mainstream" success (although he added some tasty spice to Paul Simon's "Graceland"), but he left a fine legacy of recordings and performances. And his son, Rockin' Dopsie Jr., carries on the tradition with their band The Twisters.
Rubin wasn't a great songwriter like Chenier. But he *was* a great accordionist, and he knew how to run a band. On recordings, his music is best appreciated live, as on the fine "Big Bad Zydeco" (1988) and on the small label release "In New Orleans" (recorded 1984, released 2002). And it's definitely worth checking out any videos of Rubin or his son that get posted online. For example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a_0BAW71E8
(That's Rockin' Dopsie, Jr., on washboard.) Although Rubin died in 1993, it's clear that the music lives in. And in this renewed time of trouble for the Gulf and our country, that's one reason to rejoice.
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