An important composer of hits for the voices of some of the biggest performers of the golden era of Brazilian song, Bide was also instrumental in the transformation of folk samba into an urban product in the early 20th century.

On August 12, 1928, upon becoming friends with Ismael Silva, Mano Edigar, Brancura, and Baiaco, Bide founded the first samba school ever, Deixa Falar. With them, he formed the group that modernized the samba in an urban fashion, releasing it from the Maxixe rhythm. As a cavaquinho player, he accompanied Benedito Lacerda in that period. In 1927, Francisco Alves bought his samba (a common practice then) A Malandragem, recording it with no credit given to Bide in 1928 through Odeon. The samba was a big hit in the Carnival of that year. Bide formed an important partnership with Armando Marçal, writing immortal songs like Agora é Cinza (recorded in 1933 by Mário Reis, the song won the annual contest and had several re-recordings) and A Primeira Vez (recorded by João Gilberto). Bide also introduced a percussion instrument, the surdo, into samba. In 1932, Deixa Falar performed two of his sambas in an annual contest, O Meu Segredo and Rir pra Não Chorar. Bide was Ataulfo Alves' discoverer, being responsible for his first recorded album (with Victor). In 1934, Almirante recorded the marcha junina Ninguém Fura o Balão (with Marçal) and A Bênção, Papai Noel (with Alberto Ribeiro); in the same year, Mário Reis recorded Nosso Romance (with Marçal). In the following year, Carmen Miranda recorded Entre Outras Coisas (with Valfrido Silva), Araci de Almeida recorded Chave de Ouro (with Roberto Martins) and Almirante recorded Vem, Meu Amor (with Mano Décio da Viola and João de Barro). In 1936, Carlos Galhardo recorded Você Não Sabe, Amor (with Ataulfo Alves) and O Palhaço, O Que É? (with Paulo Barbosa). This latter song was a big hit at the Carnival of 1937, when Galhardo released Sorrir (with Marçal). In 1938, Orlando Silva recorded Tua Beleza and Francisco Alves, Meu Primeiro Amor (both with Marçal), two big hits. In the late '30s Bide became a percussionist for Rádio Nacional, together with Marçal, a position he held for almost 30 years. Bide participated in innumerable recordings during that period. One recording that especially deserves mention was done with Pixinguinha's Velha Guarda, Carnaval da Velha Guarda (Sinter, 1955). In 1941 Ataulfo Alves recorded Não Posso Viver Sem Ela (with Cartola). The song, a big hit from the start, was re-recorded by group Rosa de Ouro for the LP Rosa de Ouro II, as Mulher Fingida. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi