At 12, Erotides de Campos was already a member of his city's music band, which included in its repertory two of his songs, his first two compositions: "Porto Artur" and "Saudades Dos Meus 12 Anos." At 15, he began to learn the piano by himself. His first published song (in 1918) was the valse "Mariinha" (lyrics by Melo Aires), which was scored for piano and orchestra and achieved great success. In the same year. he organized the orchestra of the Cine São Carlos. At that time, he was already playing the flute, the clarinet, the trumpet, the trombone, the bass, the piano, and the violão (acoustic guitar). He was a member of all of the bands of the city of Piracicaba. He wrote erudite and popular compositions, leaving behind 230 pieces and 50 lyrics. His masterpiece is the valsa-serenata "Ave Maria" (lyrics by himself, signing as Jonas Neves), written in Pirassununga SP in 1924. The song was recorded by Vicente Celestino in 1926, Augusto Calheiros (1939), Alvarenga e Ranchinho (1941), and Francisco Alves (1947). ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi