Dwayne Dopsie grew uneasy when a call arrived from Quint Davis, producer of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Dopsie feared something went wrong with his May 5 Jazz Fest date.

Instead, Davis called offering a date with “a band that’s interested in playing with you.” When Davis explained the band was The Rolling Stones, Dopsie thought it was a joke.

But there was no joke when Dopsie, with zydeco accordion in hand, showed up at the rehearsal with Mick Jagger and band.

“This was like a dream,” said Dopsie, 45. “When they saw me, they hugged me with open arms, ‘Dwayne, how you doin’?’ I never felt so much love from grown men like that.”

Dopsie shared the love when he and the Stones played before a reported sell-out crowd of 40,000 at the May 2 Jazz Fest. Dopsie, who Rolling Stone magazine once called “The Jimi Hendrix of the Accordion,” joined the Stones for a live rendition of “Let it Bleed,” the title song from their 1969 album.

Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans, and Jagger performed “Time is on My Side” for the first time. In 1964, just days after hearing Thomas’ version, the Stones recorded the song. It became the British band’s first Top Ten hit in the United States.

Dopsie called the Stones show “his greatest life experience.”

“It was a joy,” said Dopsie, who lives in Lafayette. “It was a teaching moment for me.

“I wanted to make everybody proud and not mess up. From the first note, they all looked at me and smiled. I said, ‘That’s it.’”

The gig was another life-defining moment for Dopsie. As a teenager, Dopsie quit school, determined to play zydeco, like his legendary father Rockin’ Dopsie.

At the age of 19, Dopsie was crowned “America’s Hottest Accordionist” in a national contest. His Zydeco Hellraisers band went on to play network TV shows, commercials, world tours and earn two Grammy nominations.

Dopsie was featured in the documentary “Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story,” winner of the 2023 Grammy for Best Music Film.

Earlier this year, Dopsie played in a recording session for Beyonce’s country album, “Cowboy Carter.” Universal, considered the biggest music company in the world, will distribute his new album, “Now is the Time,” in June.

Dopsie believes he’s living up to the album’s title.

“I was going to Acadiana High School. My social studies teacher told me I couldn’t make it with zydeco.

“I’m not going to lie, I didn’t like school at all. But my teacher said you’re going to need this because you can’t make it with zydeco.

“I look back at all the stuff I’ve done and I’m still accomplishing. I wish I could meet up with that teacher and say, ‘Thank you for telling me I’ll never make it. Because boy, I’m sure making it.’”

Herman Fuselier is executive director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. A longtime journalist covering Louisiana music and culture, he lives in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” show airs at noon Saturdays on KRVS 88.7 FM.