Celebrating the Birthday of Rockin' Dopsie

Zydeco singer and accordionist Alton Jay Rubin, who performed as Rockin' Dopsie, was born on February 10, 1932, in Carencro, Louisiana, and was the son of Walter Rubin, who played accordion at local dances. Dopsie was given his first accordion at age 14, and since he was left-handed, he learned to play it upside down. He performed at local parties, until he was 19, at which time he moved to Lafayette with his parents. He began playing in clubs in the mid-1950s, and took his stage name from a dancer called Doopsie, including pronouncing his name the same way. In addition to performing as a zydeco musician, he continued working his day job, eventually becoming an electrical contractor.

Dopsie performed around Louisiana, and recorded occasionally the 1950s and 1960s, and his appearance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1976 led to the release of his first album, Doin' The Zydeco. His music assimilated R&B influences into zydeco, even covering R&B hits in a zydeco style. Starting in 1979, he toured Europe regularly with his group, the Twisters, and his popularity there led to him recording a string of albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1986, he played accordion on the zydeco-influenced song "That Was Your Mother" on Paul Simon's Graceland album, and recorded the album Crowned Prince Of Zydeco in 1987. His final album in 1991, Louisiana Music, received a Grammy Award nomination. Sadly, he passed away at 61 on August 26, 1993.

Dopsie’s band continues to perform, now known as Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters. The band is led by his son Dopsie Jr., who is an accordionist, vocalist and washboard player, and with his son Alton Jr., on drums. Dopsie's younger son Dwayne also plays accordion and leads his own band, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers. Today we celebrate the birthday of this gifted musician and appreciate his musical legacy!

Photo: Cover art for the album Crowned Prince of Zydeco

Happy Birthday, Geno Delafose!

Zydeco accordionist and singer Geno Delafose was born on February 6, 1972, in Eunice, Louisiana, and at the age of eight, he joined his father John Delafose's band, the Eunice Playboys as a rubboard player. Delafose switched to the accordion in the early 1990s and started to play as an opening act for his father. He played with the band and appeared on many of their recordings until his father’s death in 1994. That same year, he debuted with album French Rockin' Boogie, which also became the name of his band. He released Everybody's Dancin' in 2003, appeared on the compilation album Creole Bred: A Tribute to Creole & Zydeco in 2004, and was nominated for a Grammy Award in the "Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album" category for his 2007 album  Le Cowboy Creole.

Delafose is one of the younger generations of the genre who has created the sound known as the nouveau zydeco. His sound is deeply rooted in traditional Creole music with strong influences from Cajun music and also country and western. Today let’s wish this amazing Louisiana musician a very happy birthday!

Photo: Masahiro Sumori

Happy Birthday, Sonny Landreth!

Guitarist Clyde Vernon "Sonny" Landreth was born on February 1, 1951, in Canton Mississippi, but lives in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Known as the “King of Slydeco”, Landreth has developed a unique technique that has dubbed him as one of the world’s most advanced, and under-appreciated, guitarists by none other than Eric Clapton. Today and every day, we appreciate this gifted musician … happy birthday, Sonny!

Photo by: Truejustice

Happy Birthday, Doug Kershaw!

Fiddle player, singer and songwriter Douglas James Kershaw was born on January 24, 1936, in Tiel Ridge, Louisiana, surrounded by Cajun fiddle and accordion music. He played the fiddle from the age of five, and had mastered it before he learned English at the age of eight. His first gig was at a local bar, where he was accompanied by his mother on guitar. Playing music continued as a family affair, with Doug forming the Continental Playboys in 1948 with his brothers Nelson (“Peewee”) and Rusty Kershaw , whom he had taught to play guitar. Peewee left the group in the early 1950s, and Rusty and Doug continued performing as a duo. Although they initially sang in French, they were persuaded to incorporate English into their repertoire, and their first single, “So Lovely, Baby” went to number 14 on the country music charts. Shortly thereafter, they became members of the Louisiana Hayride cast, and after appearing at the Grand Ole Opry, they became regular members to the Opry’s cast a year later.

Despite the demands of a music career, Doug earned a degree in Mathematics, and he and his brother enlisted in the army in 1958, at the height of their early career. After fulfilling their three-year military obligation, the brothers recorded an autobiographical song that Dough had written while in the Army, “Louisiana Man.” The song not only sold millions of copies, but it is considered a standard of modern Cajun music, and was eventually covered by more than 800 artists. The brothers released three albums before going their separate ways in 1964.

By 1969, Kershaw had sold more than 18 million records and "Louisiana Man" had been a Top 10 country hit. He became widely known in mainstream America as he played at major concert venues and events. He made his first network television appearance on the debut of the Johnny Cash Show, and was the opening act for Eric Clapton's Derek and the Dominos’  week-long engagement at New York City's Fillmore East. Warner Bros. Records signed him to a long-term contract, and he performed at the Newport folk festival along with Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Don McLean, Big Mama Thornton, and Arlo Guthrie. In November 1969, "Louisiana Man" was broadcast back to earth by the crew of the Apollo 12 moon mission. 

Despite his success, Kershaw experience a family tragedy at an early age, and he suffered from depression and sorrow. He battled drug and alcohol abuse until 1984, when he rebounded with his biggest selling hit, “Hello Woman”. In 1988, he scored a Top 50 country hit with “Cajun Baby”, which he recorded with Hank Williams, Jr. In 2009, Doug was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Today we celebrate the numerous accomplishments of this legendary performer, and wish him a very happy birthday!

Photo: David Simpson (cajunzydecophotos)

Celebrating the Birthday of Lil' Buck Sinegal

Born Paul Alton Senegal on January 14, 1944, in Lafayette, Louisiana, Paul “Lil’ Buck” Sinegal was a legendary blues and zydeco guitarist and singer. He was known as the Master of the Stratocaster, and played with Clifton Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco, and many others during his 60 year career. Sinegal once said, "I am probably more known as a zydeco guitarist... [but] I've always been a bluesman...Zydeco is the blues. It's basically blues played with accordion.” Sadly, he passed away on June 10, 2019, in his Lafayette home, but this incredibly talented bluesman’s music lives on.

Photo: robbiesaurus

Celebrating the Birthday of Dave Bartholomew

David Louis Bartholomew was born on December 24, 1918, in Edgard, Louisiana. He was a musician, bandleader, composer, writer, arranger, and producer in many musical genres including Big Band, swing, R&B, rock and roll, New Orleans and Dixieland Jazz. Bartholomew is best known for his numerous successful collaborations with Fats Domino and other artists, as well as for his significant and influential role in the transition from swing and jump blues to rock and roll. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and recognized for these achievements, being dubbed “one of the Crescent City’s greatest musicians.” New Orleans music legend Dave Bartholomew passed away on June 23, 2019, at the age of 100, but his music lives on. Today, on his birthday, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dave Bartholomew!

Photo by Klaus Hiltscher; SpinningSpark