Second only to perhaps Clifton Chenier in the pantheon of zydeco, Rockin' Dopsie was a master of the form in his own right, and he played a large role in the development of the style, which grew from earlier cajun and creole folk styles. Known for his left-handed accordion playing, Rockin' Dopsie garnered equal acclaim and attention for the electric, energetic style which earned him his nickname; he found acclaim in Europe as early as the 1970s but had to wait until the '80s to achieve recognition in the United States.