Alton Rubin, known to the Zydeco Nation as Rockin' Dopsie "the Prince of Zydeco", died on August 26, 1993 in Opelousas, Louisiana of heart failure at the age of 64.
Alton Rubin, known to the Zydeco Nation as Rockin' Dopsie "the Prince of Zydeco", died on August 26, 1993 in Opelousas, Louisiana of heart failure at the age of 64. He was married Alvina LeBlanc and had eight children (including sons Alton and David) As a child he worked in the sugarcane and cotton fields. His father was an accordion player who often took young Dopsie to the weekend house parties that were an integral part of rural society. Dopsie played left-handed, thus turning the accordion upside down. The great Clifton Chenier encouraged him to pursue music full-time, but Dopsie continued to work at day jobs, eventually becoming an electrical contractor, occasionally making a few recordings. However, it was Sam Charters, of Sweden's Sonet record label, with whom he would record his first LP as well as five more over the following ten years. These European recordings were the beginning of international success for Dopsie. Like many traditional musicians, his popularity in Europe preceded his recognition in the United States. In the 1980s Dopsie began to receive widespread recognition in the U.S. from fans as well as musicians outside the Louisiana community. In 1985, pop singer and songwriter Paul Simon went to bayou country to record "That Was Your Mother" with Dopsie; the song later appeared on Simon's Grammy Award-winning album Graceland. In 1989, he received his first Grammy Award nomination, for Saturday Night Zydeco. Since Dopsie's death from heart failure in 1993, his band, The Twisters, continues to perform; now led by his son Dopsie Jr., accordionist, vocalist and washboard player, with another son Alton Jr., on drums. He was also related to Chanda Rubin, who is a current tennis star.