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

Celebrating the Birthday of Earl King!

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Earl King (Earl Silas Johnson) was born in New Orleans on February 7, 1934. King started playing guitar at 15, entered local talent contests, and met his idol, Guitar Slim, at one such contest at the Dew Drop Inn. In 1954, King toured with Guitar Slim's band, representing himself as Slim, after an automobile accident had sidelined Slim.King ultimately became a regular at the Inn, and made his first recording in 1953 as Earl Johnson. In 1955 his hit song “Those Lonely, Lonely Nights” reached number 7 on the BillboardR&B chart. The legendary Dave Bartholomew invited King to record for Imperial Records in 1960, and it was there that he recorded his signature songs “Trick Bag” and “Come On”.

While King did not record for much of the 1960s, he was very productive producing and songwriting for local labels, including the iconic “Big Chief” recorded by Professor Longhair. He recorded a few tracks for Motown Records in the mid-1960s, and in 1972 he recorded the album Street Paradewith Allen Toussaint and the Meters, which was ultimately released in 1982. King appeared on the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 1976, recorded the album That Good Old New Orleans Rock ‘n Roll, released in 1977. His 1986 album Glazedwas nominated for a Grammy Award. He released two more albums in the 1990s featuring such luminaries as Snooks Eaglin, George Porter, Jr., and David Torkanosky. King performed off and on locally until his death. 

Earl King passed away on April 17, 2003, just a week before the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. And in typical New Orleans style, his funeral was held during the festival with many musicians in attendance, including Dr. John, Aaron Neville, and Leo Nocentelli. On this day we remember one of the greats of New Orleans Blues!

Photo by: Masahiro Sumori

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

Celebrating the Birthday of Willie Tee

Keyboardist, songwriter, singer, and producer Wilson Turbinton, professionally known as Willie Tee, was born in New Orleans on February 6, 1944. An early architect of New Orleans funk and soul, he helped shape the sound of New Orleans for more than four decades. Tee grew up in the Calliope Projects in New Orleans. Early influences ranged from Professor Longhair’s rhythm and blues, to John Coltrane’s jazz. He made his first recordings in 1962 while still a teenager. In the late 1960s, Willie Tee & the Souls played venues from the Apollo Theater in Harlem to the Ivanhoe on Bourbon Street. Tee arranged, co-wrote and led the band on the Wild Magnolias' self-titled 1974 debut album. The popularity of that recording, and the subsequent They Call Us Wild, introduced the Mardi Gras Indians' brand of funk to the world.

Tee's early recordings have been used as source material for numerous rappers, includingNew Orleans’ own Lil Wayne, who sampled "Moment of Truth", a song from Turbinton's 1976 album, Anticipation for 2005’s "Tha Mobb", the opening track on Tha Carter II. Tee remained active in his career as a producer, songwriter, performer and session musician. He contributed to Dr. John's 2004 album, N'Awlinz: Dis Dat or D'Udda, and appeared briefly in the Oscar-winning Jamie Foxx film about Ray Charles, Ray. In April 2007, Tee was honored with an induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame for his contributions to Louisiana music. Sadly, Tee died on September 11, 2007, aged 63, four weeks after being diagnosed with colon cancer. He may be gone, but his contribution to New Orleans music is immeasurable and will always be remembered.

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, Samantha Fish!

Samantha Fish was born on January 30, 1989, in Kansas City, Missouri. Fish started out playing drums, but when she was 15 she switched to the guitar. Fish frequently went to the Knuckleheads Saloon to hear touring Blues artists, ultimately joining in with the performers after she turned 18. Fish recorded and produced the live album Live Bait in 2009, which led to a record with two other female blues artists, Cassie Taylor and Dani Wilde, titled Girls with Guitars, as well as an international tour in 2011. Fish won the 2012 Blues Music Award for Best New Artist for her record Runaway. In 2013, Fish released her second major studio album, Black Wind Howlin', and her third studio album Wild Heart, in 2015. Fish released her fourth solo album, Chills & Fever in 2017, her fifth, Belle of the West in 2017, her sixth, Kill or Be Kind, in 2019, and her seventh, Faster, in 2021. Fish regularly performs in New Orleans and is a favorite at local festivals. The annual Samantha Fish Cigar Box Guitar Festival showcases her unique talent using unique instruments. Today we say to this amazingly talented artist, Happy Birthday Samantha!

Photo: Salamanamanjaro