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Rockin' Dopsie Jr
Zydeco
The word zydeco is derived from the French les haricots (which translated means string beans),
and which is pronounced "lay zah ree' co." One supposes that this music must have been played
during the harvesting of the bean crop. Little by little, "zah ree' co" evolved into zydeco.
Zydeco music is a bubbling, melodic gumbo concocted from Cajun/Acadian music, Afro-
Caribbean rhythms and melodies, and blues. Over the past few years, this funky and highly
danceable music has broken out of its Southern Louisiana breeding ground to enjoy widespread popularity throughout the world.
Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. (pronounced Doop' see) & The Zydeco Twisters are the greatest living
practitioners of this music. Dopsie, Jr. presents zydeco with the conviction and authenticity of its
rich heritage. His earliest musical memories are of his father's accordion playing. Dopsie, Jr. was
given a basic accordion by his father at the age of nine. He taught himself to play, as had his
father, by listening to and playing along with the radio.
"I really loved that sound, but I needed more mobility so I could jump up and down and do my
splits, you know. I must've inherited my love for the blues from my father 'cause I still listen to BB
King, Jimmy Reed, the Vaughn Brothers and Bobby Bland, but when I was growing up, the
Jackson Five, Sly Stone and James Brown were really happening." Both genres are evident in
Dopsie, Jr.'s performances.
He played in several bands in his early teens, but at age 21 was given his first rub board, a must
for the authentic presentation of zydeco. The rub board was his ticket to joining his father's band,
in which he became an official member in 1982. Dopsie, Jr. was then able to play the music that
he loved, while dancing like the psychedelic stars of the time.
The team of father and son netted the band international notoriety. Today the Zydeco Twisters'
sole leader is Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. His brother, Tiger Dopsie, is the band's drum virtuoso and
maintains the highly danceable beat. Anthony Dopsie, a great accordion player, replaced his
father in the band playing the button accordion in a manner similar to his father's, but with the
fervor of youth.
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