Career
Dopsie, who began performing professionally in the late 1940s, took his stage name from a Chicago dancer who had come to perform in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Dopsie recorded his debut album with Sam Charters for Sweden's Sonet label. Over the next decade, Dopsie recorded five more albums for the label. Released in Europe, Dopsie soon became a popular performer. He began touring Europe twice annually in 1979. It was not until well into the 1980s that Dopsie's music began garnering attention back home. His U.S. career got a big boost in 1985 when he recorded "That Was Your Mother" with Paul Simon on the latter's Graceland album. Later, Dopsie would also record with other pop singers including Cyndi Lauper and Bob Dylan. He has also appeared in a few films, including Delta Heat.
Dopsie's first language was Louisiana Creole French, and he spread the Creole culture throughout the world by his music.
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. Dopsie's younger son, Dwayne, also plays accordion and leads his own band, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers.
Read more about this topic: Rockin' Dopsie
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“I seemed intent on making it as difficult for myself as possible to pursue my “male” career goal. I not only procrastinated endlessly, submitting my medical school application at the very last minute, but continued to crave a conventional female role even as I moved ahead with my “male” pursuits.”
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—Jessie Bernard (20th century)