[3] To earn money after Gustave's death, his mother took in laundry from white people and his older brother hired himself out to help support the family.

[2][3] After starting on the triangle with his cousin Amédé Ardoin and fiddler Dennis McGee, he learned traditional accordion at age 12,[2] playing the style of Louisiana music that was a precursor to zydeco.

[5] Through his teenage years, Bois Sec played triangle in Amédé's band at a club in Basile and at numerous house parties throughout the region.

The popular band played at many folk festivals,[2] made a number of recordings, and appeared in two films, Dry Wood (1973) and J'ai Été Au Bal (1989).

Ardoin retired from playing music after the death of his son Gustave "Bud" in a car accident in 1974, but returned a few years later.