{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}{{short description|American Zydeco musician}}{{Infobox musical artist | name = Dwayne Dopsie | image = Dwayne Dopsie 2022.png | alt = Dwayne Dopsie in 2022 | caption = Dwayne Dopsie in 2022 | birth_name = Dwayne Rubin | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|03|03}} | birth_place = Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S. | genre = zydeco | instrument = accordion, vocals | website = {{Official URL}} }} '''Dwayne Rubin''', better known by his stage name '''Dwayne Dopsie''', is an American Zydeco musician. He is the accordionist and vocalist for his New Orleans-based band, '''Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers'''.
== Biography == Dwayne Dopsie was born March 3, 1979, in Lafayette, Louisiana.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-10 |title=Louisiana Musician Birthdays |url=https://www.offbeat.com/louisiana-musician-birthdays-this-week/,%20https://www.offbeat.com/louisiana-musician-birthdays-this-week/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227072556/https://www.offbeat.com/louisiana-musician-birthdays-this-week/ |archive-date=2024-02-27 |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=OffBeat Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> He is the youngest of accordionist Rockin' Dopsie's eight children, and picked up music in the household from an early age. He began playing washboard at age six and accordion at seven, and performed with his father on stage at Mardi Gras and on television for a Super Bowl halftime during his childhood.<ref name="houma">[http://www.houmatimes.com/gumbo/music/concerts/bob-profile-dwayne-dopsie-and-the-zydeco-hellraisers/article_f263a5da-11ab-11e3-abd9-001a4bcf887a.html BOB Profile: Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers]{{Dead link|date=February 2024|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}. ''Houma Times'', August 30, 2013.</ref>
After Rockin' Dopsie died in 1993, Dwayne Dopsie dropped out of high school to pursue zydeco music full-time.<ref name="houma" /> He founded his own band, the Zydeco Hellraisers, in 1999 when he was nineteen years old,<ref>[https://www.wwoz.org/blog/3804 New music spotlight: Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers]. WWOZ, August 18, 2005.</ref> and that same year was named "America's Hottest Accordionist" in a competition run by the American Accordion Association.<ref name="advertiser">[http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/10/12/dopsie-salutes-fathers-zydeco-legacy/91748434/ Dopsie salutes father's zydeco legacy]. ''The Advertiser'', October 12, 2016.</ref>
In 2013, Dopsie collaborated with Corey Ledet, Anthony Dopsie and Andre Thierry on the album ''Nothin' But the Best'', which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots Music Album.<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-grammys-2013-complete-list-of-nominees-and-winners-story.html Grammys 2013: Complete list of nominees and winners]. ''Los Angeles Times'', February 10, 2013.</ref> Dopsie received another nomination in the same category for his 2017 album ''Top of the Mountain''. Dopsie plays regularly at New Orleans events such as Mardi Gras and Jazz & Heritage Festival, has done numerous tours of the United States,<ref>[http://www.eriereader.com/article/dwayne-dopsie-and-the-zydeco-hellraisers-local-newgrass-part-of-8-great-tuesdays Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, Local Newgrass Part of 8 Great Tuesdays]. ''Erie Reader'', July 22, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/lehigh-valley-music/mc-review-cool-music-high-energy-at-24th-annual-pennsylvania-blues-festival-20150726-post.html Review: Cool music, high energy at 24th annual Pennsylvania Blues Festival]. ''The Morning Call'', July 26, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.carbondalerocks.com/node/143221 Dwayne Dopsie and the Hellraisers: Bringing the Bayou to Little Egypt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909233450/http://www.carbondalerocks.com/node/143221 |date=2017-09-09 }}. Carbondalerocks.com, July 2016.</ref><ref>[http://thetahoeweekly.com/2013/07/dwayne-dopsie-and-the-zydeco-hellraisers/ Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers]. ''Tahoe Weekly'', July 24, 2013.</ref> and has toured internationally several times, including performances in Canada, Georgia, and China.<ref name="advertiser" /> In 2018, Dopsie signed with [http://louisianaredhotrecors.com Louisiana Red Hot Records]{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, who released ''Bon Ton'' in the June, 2019. 280px|thumb|Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, 2010
== Music == Dopsie's style is grounded in Zydeco but incorporates musical elements from rock and roll, rhythm and blues, blues, and reggae.<ref>[https://www.offbeat.com/music/dwayne-dopsie-zydeco-hellraisers-calling-name-sound-new-orleans/ Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, Calling Your Name (Sound of New Orleans)]. ''OffBeat'', August 26, 2015.</ref>
==Zydeco Hellraisers members== ;Current *Dwayne Dopsie - accordion, vocal *Juju Child - guitar *Brandon David - guitar, vocals *Percy Walker - drums *Dion Pierre - bass *Paul Lafleur - washboard *Tim McFatter - saxophone
;Former *Alex MacDonald - washboard, vocals *Calvin Sam - drums *Carl Landry - saxophone *Shelton Sonnier - guitar, vocals *Vincent Doucet - washboard *Kipori Woods - guitar *Dee Fleming - drums *Kevin Minor - drums *Reggie Smith Jr. - saxophone
== Awards and honors ==
=== ''OffBeat'''s Best of The Beat Awards === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Category !Work nominated !Result !Ref. |- |1999 |Best Emerging Zydeco Band or Performer | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2011-09-08 |title=Best of the Beat Award Winners: Complete List |url=https://www.offbeat.com/best-of-the-beat-award-winners-complete-list/,%20https://www.offbeat.com/best-of-the-beat-award-winners-complete-list/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=OffBeat Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814182218/https://www.offbeat.com/best-of-the-beat-award-winners-complete-list/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- |2000 |Best Emerging Zydeco Band or Performer | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |2003 |Best Accordionist | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2012 |Best Zydeco Band or Performer | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |Best Zydeco Album |''Been Good to You'' |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |2013 |Best Accordionist | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |2014 |Best Zydeco Band or Performer | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2015 |Best Zydeco Band or Performer | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |Best Zydeco Album |''Calling Your Name'' |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |2016 |Best Zydeco Band or Performer | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- | rowspan="3" |2017 |Best Zydeco Band or Performer | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |Best Zydeco Album |''Top of the Mountain'' |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |Best Accordionist | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |2018 |Best Zydeco Band or Performer | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2019 |Best Zydeco Band or Performer | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |Best Zydeco Album |''Bon Ton'' |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |2020 |Best Zydeco Band or Performer | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2021-22 |Best Zydeco Band or Performer | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |Best Zydeco Album |''Set Me Free'' |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |2023 |Best Accordionist | |{{won}} |<ref name=":0" /> |}
==Discography== ;Studio albums *''Now It Begins'' (1999) *''Dopsie Strikes'' (2001) *''Travelin' Man'' (2006) *''Up In Flames'' (2009) *''Been Good To You'' (2011) *''Calling Your Name'' (2015) *''Top Of The Mountain'' (2017, Grammy Nominated) *''Bon Ton'' (2019) * Set me free ( 2021) ;Live albums *''Get Down!'' (2011) *''Dopsie's Got It'' (2014) * LIVE AT THE 2023 NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL ( 2023, Grammy nominated)
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dopsie, Dwayne}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:American male singers Category:Zydeco musicians Category:Musicians from Louisiana Category:21st-century American accordionists Category:21st-century American male musicians