Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin
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Ardoin playing at the 2002 Festivals Acadiens in Lafayette, Louisiana
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 16, 1915 Duralde, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | May 16, 2007 (aged 91) Eunice, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Creole |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, accordionist, singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, cajun accordion |
Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin (born November 16, 1915 – died May 16, 2007) was a famous Creole accordion player. He was known for playing "la la music," also called "la musique Creole." This type of music is very similar to Cajun music and helped shape what we now call zydeco music.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Alphonse Ardoin was born in a small country area called Duralde in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana. His parents were Gustave and Mary Louise Ardoin. When Alphonse was four, his father passed away. His mother worked doing laundry, and his older brother helped support the family.
Alphonse got his nickname "Bois Sec," which means "dry wood" in French. He earned it because he was always the first to run inside when it started raining!
He started playing music at age 12. First, he played the triangle with his cousin Amédé Ardoin and fiddler Dennis McGee. Then, he learned to play the traditional accordion. He played a style of Louisiana music that came before zydeco. As a teenager, Bois Sec played the triangle in Amédé's band at a club in Basile. They also played at many house parties in the area.
Musical Journey and Bands
Bois Sec Ardoin had a long-time music partner named Canray Fontenot. By 1948, they were playing together in a band called the Duralde Ramblers. They performed on local radio stations and in clubs.
In 1966, they were invited to play at the Newport Jazz Festival, a big music event. The audience loved their performance! That same year, they recorded their first album, Les Blues Du Bayou.
In the early 1970s, Bois Sec started the Ardoin Family Orchestra. His three sons and Canray Fontenot were part of this popular band. They played at many folk festivals and made several recordings. They also appeared in two films: Dry Wood (1973) and J'ai Été Au Bal (1989).
Bois Sec stopped playing music for a while after his son Gustave "Bud" passed away in 1974. But he returned to music a few years later. After Canray Fontenot passed away in 1995, Bois Sec played with Christine Balfa, Dirk Powel, and their band Balfa Toujours. They recorded an album together called Allons Danser in 1998.
Family Life
Bois Sec and his wife Marceline had 14 children. They raised their large family on their farm in Duralde. They were respected leaders in their community.
Bois Sec's oldest son, Morris, played accordion with the family band for many years. He later opened his own dance hall and bar called Club Morris. This club became a central place for the Creole community in Duralde to gather. Another son, Lawrence "Black" Ardoin, is also a musician. He formed his own group called French Zydeco Band in the 1980s.
Three of Bois Sec's grandchildren—Dexter, Sean, and Chris—have also become musicians.
Later Years and Passing
On May 16, 2007, Bois Sec Ardoin passed away at the age of 91. He died of natural causes in a nursing home in Eunice, Louisiana. His funeral was held at St Anthony Catholic Church.
Selected Music Albums
- La Musique Creole
- Allons Danser
- Les Blues De Bayou
Awards and Honors
In 1986, Bois Sec Ardoin and Canray Fontenot received National Heritage Fellowships. This award is given by the National Endowment for the Arts. It is the highest honor the United States government gives for folk and traditional arts.
See Also
In Spanish: Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin para niños
- History of Cajun Music
- List of Notable People Related to Cajun Music
Images for kids
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Ardoin playing at the 2002 Festivals Acadiens in Lafayette, Louisiana
