With the death of his parents, he moved to Recife , where he was an apprentice blacksmith.
In 1902, he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he stayed with his sister and finds work in a foundry . Six years later , he worked as a laborer for mayor of the city of Rio, and is housed in a hostel in the city center . During this period he has rubbed shoulders with important musicians of popular music, and he improved mastery of the instrument, always by himself . (Hide extended text)...(Read all) Source : Wikipedia