Zydeco ’ s
Royal Family
By Kim Welsh
Everyone is out this spring at the many festivals offered and the choices for music and food are mind-boggling ! While you are out and about , be sure to dip into an explosive set of zydeco music and you won ’ t be able to resist the urge to dance ! Zydeco music is a bubbling , melodic gumbo concocted from Cajun and Acadian music stirred together with Afro-Caribbean rhythms and call-and-response songcraft . “ The only way you could be more funky is if you ’ d been born a skunk ,” claims local music icon Cyril Neville of The Neville Brothers . This funky upbeat tempo music with a rich heritage is sure to give you “ happy feet ”! It has broken out of its southern Louisiana breeding ground to enjoy widespread popularity throughout the world .
The zydeco explosion started when Alton Jay Rubin performed as Rockin ’ Dopsie , singing and playing accordion . Born in Carencro , Louisiana to an accordion player , Rubin ’ s first language was Creole French . At 14 , he was given an accordion . Since he was left-handed , he learned to play it upside down and soon outstripped his father ’ s abilities . “ I ’ m the only man in the world that plays the accordion upside-down ,” Rockin ’ Dopsie said . “ It ’ s all because Daddy didn ’ t taught me how to play . I just picked it up .” He began playing in clubs in the mid-1950s while he continued with his electrical contractor career . In 1976 , he appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and was signed by the Swedish record label Sonet , who issued his first album , Doin ’ The Zydeco in 1976 . In 1979 , he toured Europe regularly with his group , the Twisters , and his popularity there led to him recording a string of albums and gaining attention in the United States . At age 21 , his son David was given his first rub board or frottoir , a must for the authentic presentation of zydeco . The rub board was David ’ s ticket to joining his father ’ s band in 1982 . Dopsie , Sr . played accordion on Paul Simon ’ s Graceland album in 1986 and he also recorded with Bob Dylan and Cyndi Lauper . His final album in 1991 , Louisiana Music , received a Grammy Award ® nomination .
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