Alton Jay Rubin
b. February 10th, 1932 in Carencro (Louisiana)
d. August 26th, 1993 in New Orleans (Louisiana)
SWAMP MUSIC vol.3 : KINGS OF ZYDECO
Trikont
1968
Fils de l'accordéoniste Walter Rubin, il apprend l'instrument dès ses 14 ans (Dopsie est gaucher et joue d'un accordéon à boutons retourné) tout en travaillant dans les champs de coton et de canne à sucre. Installé à Lafayette depuis 1951, il commence à jouer dans les clubs de la région en compagnie de son cousin Chester Zeno au washboard et utilise le pseudonyme de Rockin' Dopsie (ou Dupsee ou Dopcee). Electricien le jour, Dopsie se fait progressivement une petite renommée qui lui permet de graver deux morceaux pour le label Bon Temps et le producteur Floyd Soileau : le très blues "Who's loving you tonight" et "Pushin' and pullin'".
Son of accordionist Walter Rubin, he learned the instrument when he was 14 years old (Dopsie is left-handed and plays a button accordion upside-down) while working in cotton and sugar cane fields. Settled in Lafayette since 1951, he began playing in area clubs with his cousin Chester Zeno on washboard and uses pseudonym Rockin' Dopsie (or Dupsee or Dopcee). Electrician during the day, Dopsie get progressively a small fame that allows him to cut two pieces for the Bon Temps label and producer Floyd Soileau : the pure blues "Who's loving you tonight" and "Pushin' and pullin'".
CLIFTON CHENIER & ROCKIN' DUPSEE
Flyright
1969 ? / July 1970
ROCKIN' WITH DUPSEE
Flyright
July 1970 / June 1972 / 1974
Rockin' Dopsie enregistra substantiellement pour le producteur Jay Miller entre 1970 et 1974 lors de différentes séances à Crowley notamment pour son label Blues Unlimited. Si les musiciens sont restés inconnus - à l'exception de son cousin Chester Zeno au washboard - on trouve ici de nombreuses pépites Zydeco avec de forts accents Blues : le superbe "Sweetest thing in the world", "You told me", "Run here to me baby", "Woman I don't want your troubles", "Everyday I have the blues", "Things I used to do", "Ma negresse", "She's my little girl" (deux versions remarquables), "Don't you want a man like me". Les 2 CD édités par le label anglais Flyright (fondé par Bruce Bastin, Mike Leadbitter et Simon Napier) reprennent une bonne partie de cette première oeuvre.
Rockin' Dopsie recorded substantially for producer Jay Miller between 1970 and 1974 during various sessions in Crowley notably for his label Blues Unlimited. If the musicians remained unknown - with the exception of his cousin Chester Zeno on washboard - we find here many Zydeco gems with strong Blues accents : the superb "Sweetest thing in the world", "You told me", "Run here to me baby", "Woman I don't want your troubles", "Everyday I have the blues", "Things I used to do", "Ma negresse", "She's my little girl" (two remarkable versions), "Don't you want a man like me". The 2 CDs issued by the english label Flyright (founded by Bruce Bastin, Mike Leadbitter and Simon Napier) compile a good part of this first work.
ROCKIN' ACCORDION
Flyright
June 1972
Une version du "Everyday I have the blues" probablement gravée pour le label Blues Unlimited mais restée inédite.
A version of "Everyday I have the blues" probably engraved for the Blues Unlimited label but remained unissued.
DOIN' THE ZYDECO
Sonet
ZY-DE-CO-IN'
Sonet
1976
Rockin' Dopsie signe avec le label suédois Sonet grâce à Sam Charters en 1976. Cette collaboration débouchera sur une belle série d'albums. Pour ce premier opus, Dopsie joue avec son groupe régulier - The Cajun Twisters - avec August "Fred" Charles (saxophone), Manuel Harris (guitare), Major Handy (guitare), Chester Zeno (washboard), Albert "Morris" Frances (basse), Joseph Edwards (batterie). Remarquable chanteur et accordéoniste, il s'impose rapidement comme un des talents les plus intéressants du Zydeco et cet album est un de ses meilleurs. On retient en particulier "Ma negresse", "Who's loving you tonight", "Josephine", "Jump up", "Doin' the zydeco". Un programme dense et inspiré. La même année, il participe au New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. La réédition CD "Zy-de-co-in'" reprend la presque totalité de l'album et ajoute quelques morceaux du suivant.
Rockin' Dopsie signed with the swedish label Sonet thanks to Sam Charters in 1976. This collaboration will lead to a nice series of albums. For this first opus, Dopsie plays with his regular band - The Cajun Twisters - with August "Fred" Charles (saxophone), Manuel Harris (guitar), Major Handy (guitar), Chester Zeno (washboard), Albert "Morris" Frances (bass), Joseph Edwards (drums). Remarkable singer and accordionist, he quickly established himself as one of the most interesting talents of Zydeco and this album is one of his best. We particularly remember "Ma negresse", "Who's loving you tonight", "Josephine", "Jump up", "Doin' the zydeco". A dense and inspired program. The same year, he participates in New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The CD reissue "Zy-de-co-in'" compiles almost the whole album and adds some sides of the following one.
ZY-DE-BLUE PLAY THE BLUES
Sonet
ZY-DE-CO-IN'
Sonet
1977
Second opus pour Sonet pour Rockin' Dopsie et son groupe régulier. Le programme semble ici un peu moins percutant que sur l'album précédent. Pour autant, la set-list est plaisante et recèle une poignée de bons morceaux : "When I lost my little girl", "Cold cold nights" (guitare et chant de Manuel Harris), "Worried life blues", "This loneliness" (basse et chant d'Albert "Morris" Frances). La réédition CD "Zy-de-co-in'" reprend quelques morceaux de "Zy-de-blue play the blues" avec la presque totalité de l'album précédent.
Second opus for Sonet for Rockin' Dopsie and his regular band. The program here seems a little less powerful than on the previous album. However, the set-list is pleasant and contains a handful of good songs : "When I lost my little girl", "Cold cold nights" (guitar and vocals by Manuel Harris), "Worried life blues", "This loneliness" (bass and vocals by Albert "Morris" Frances). The CD reissue "Zy-de-co-in'" compiles some tracks of "Zy-de-blue play the blues" with almost all the previous album.
NYON FOLK FESTIVAL 1979 vol.1
Cat
July 1979
Il y a un titre de Rockin' Dopsie ("Hey petite fia") sur ce LP capturé au Nyon Folk Festival. La qualité sonore est correcte mais manque de puissance.
There is a Rockin' Dopsie ("Hey petite fia") title on this LP captured at the Nyon Folk Festival. The sound quality is decent but lacks power.
HOLD ON
Sonet
GNP - Crescendo
1979
Pour ce troisième album pour le producteur Sam Charters et le label Sonet, Rockin' Dopsie délivre une fois encore un beau cocktail de musique louisianaise : le blues "Baby by by" mais aussi "Marie", "Times done gone" et "Tired in the street" (chanté par "Morris" Frances). On note la participation du superbe saxophoniste John Hart.
For this third album for producer Sam Charters and the Sonet label, Rockin' Dopsie once again delivers a beautiful cocktail of Louisiana music : the blues "Baby by by" but also "Marie", "Times done gone" and "Tired in the street" (sung by "Morris" Frances). We note the participation of the superb saxophonist John Hart.
BIG BAD ZYDECO
Sonet
GNP - Crescendo
July 1979 / 1980
Album mi-studio (aux studios Master-Trak de Crowley) mi-live (au Dingwall's Club de Londres) avec plusieurs excellents moments comme "Me and my chauffeur", "On my way back home", "Ma negresse", "Ay-te-te-fee". Chaude ambiance, feeling des musiciens : un opus très plaisant. On note la présence de John Hart (ancien saxophone de Clifton Chenier) et d'Alton Rubin Jr, son fils, à la batterie.
Half-studio (at the Crowley Master-Trak studios) half-live (at Dingwall's Club in London) album with some great moments like "Me and my chauffeur", "On my way back home", "Ma negresse", "Ay-te-te-fee". Warm atmosphere, feeling of the musicians : a very pleasant opus. We note the presence of John Hart (former Clifton Chenier's saxophone) and Alton Rubin Jr, his son, on drums.
FRENCH STYLE
Sonet
1981
Dopsie explore ici plusieurs genres comme la musique Cajun en particulier en ajoutant également des éléments Blues, Rhythm & Blues et Zydeco. Ces fortes intonations Cajun sont encore amplifiées par l'apport des invités Dewey & Tony Balfa et Jay Pelsia. D'excellentes reprises de "Hound dog", "What'd I say", "I'm in the mood" mais aussi "Tu connais" et "Where were you last night".
Dopsie explores here several genres like Cajun music in particular also adding elements Blues, Rhythm & Blues and Zydeco. These strong Cajun intonations are further amplified by the contributions of the Dewey & Tony Balfa and Jay Pelsia. Excellent covers of "Hound dog", "What'd I say", "I'm in the mood" but also "Tu connais" and "Where were you last night".
THE BLOWIN' MAN
Sonet
1981
IN NEW ORLEANS
Storyville
March 1984
Concert au Maple Leaf Bar de la Nouvelle Orléans. On remarque l'arrivée du superbe guitariste Paul "Lil' Buck" Senegal dans le groupe de Rockin' Dopsie. On note aussi la présence de son fils David Rubin au washboard (qui fera carrière sous le nom de Rockin' Dopsie Jr). On peut retenir de très belles lectures de "I'm in the mood for love", "Please don't leave me", "The Louisiana two step".
Concert at the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans. We note the arrival of the superb guitarist Paul "Lil' Buck" Senegal in Rockin' Dopsie backing band. We also note the presence of his son David Rubin on washboard (who will make a career under the name Rockin' Dopsie Jr). We can point out beautiful readings of "I'm in the mood for love", "Please don't leave me", "The Louisiana two step".
GOOD ROCKIN'
Sonet
GNP - Crescendo
1984
Dernier disque pour Sonet. Dopsie est notamment accompagné par une belle paire de guitaristes : Russell Gordon (également guitariste de Buckwheat Zydeco) et Paul "Lil' Buck" Senegal (ancien guitariste de Clifton Chenier) sont brillants. De nombreux morceaux méritent une écoute attentive comme "I'm walkin'", "I'm a country boy", "Zydeco 'round the world", "Ever since my baby left me", "Whole lot of loving", "Driving wheel". Un superbe album très Blues, probablement une de ses meilleures réussites. On note enfin que Dopsie laisse souvent les parties chantées à ses musiciens.
Last record for Sonet. Dopsie is accompanied by a beautiful pair of guitarists : Russell Gordon (also Buckwheat Zydeco guitarist) and Paul "Lil' Buck" Senegal (former Clifton Chenier guitarist) are brilliant. Many songs deserve listening like "I'm walkin'", "I'm a country boy", "Zydeco 'round the world", "Ever since my baby left me", "Whole lot of loving", "Driving wheel". A superb Blues album, probably one of his best achievements. We note also that Dopsie often leaves sung parts to his musicians.
CROWNED PRINCE OF ZYDECO
Maison de Soul
Sonet
1986
Gravé à Lafayette sous la supervision du producteur Floyd Soileau (qui avait produit son premier simple en 1968), cet album contient quelques beaux moments : "Old time Zydeco", "I got a woman", "Make it hot", "Why you do the things you do", "Zyde-cool". On note la participation du guitariste Sherman Robertson. La même année, Dopsie joue sur l'album "Graceland" de Paul Simon qui remporte un succès mondial (le remarquable "That was your mother").
Cut in Lafayette under the supervision of producer Floyd Soileau (who had produced his first single back in 1968), this album contains some beautiful moments : "Old time Zydeco", "I got a woman", "Make it hot", "Why you do the things you do", "Zyde-cool". We can note the participation of guitarist Sherman Robertson. The same year, Dopsie appeared on Paul Simon's album "Graceland" which won a worldwide success (the remarkable "That was your mother").
SATURDAY NIGHT ZYDECO
Maison de Soul
Sonet
December 1987
Second opus pour Floyd Soileau et le label Maison de Soul avec quasiment la même équipe de musiciens. Encore une fois, le programme est consistant et constamment excitant : "I can't lose with the stuff I use", "Dopsie's cajun stomp", "Dopsie's boogie", "Mardi Gras in New Orleans", "Shake rattle & roll", "Ella Mae". Un des meilleurs albums de sa discographie.
Second opus for Floyd Soileau and the Maison de Soul label with almost the same team of musicians. Again, the program is consistent and constantly exciting : "I can't lose with the stuff I use", "Dopsie's cajun stomp", "Dopsie's boogie", "Mardi Gras in New Orleans", "Shake rattle & roll", "Ella Mae". One of the best albums of his discography.
BEST OF JAZZ FEST 1988
Mardi Gras
April 1988
Trois morceaux live capturés lors du New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival qui montre le dynamisme scénique de Rockin' Dopsie en particulier "Zydecool" et "Dopsie's boogie".
Three live tracks captured during New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival which shows the scenic dynamism of Rockin' Dopsie in particular "Zydecool" and "Dopsie's boogie".
LOUISIANA MUSIC
Atlantic
1990