Étienne Baudo was born in Marseille in the family of a fish salesman.
At the suggestion of his neighbors, he entered the Conservatoire de Marseille, then later enrolled in the class of Louis Bleuzet [fr] at the Conservatoire de Paris, graduating in 1924.
[1] From the interwar period up to 1960, he was a member of the Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Paris held the position of solo oboe during the creation of Ravel's Boléro under the baton of the composer, before specialising on the cor anglais, playing the Concerto en sol in 1932, again under the baton of Ravel.
He declined Charles Munch's offer to play in the Boston Symphony in the 1950s, prioritizing his career in Paris.
As a professor in the Paris Conservatory, his notable students include Maurice Bourgue, Pierre Rolland, and Lajos Lencsés [fr].