A member of the Portela samba school since he was seven and member of the Velha Guarda da Portela since 1970, Jair do Cavaquinho wrote Meu Barracão de Zinco, the samba which made him famous outside his community when it was chosen to represent the samba school in 1962. Among his hits are Tudo em Vão, recorded by Nara Leão, and Fim do Nosso Amor, recorded by Norimar. In 1965, Do Cavaquinho was paid tribute, with Elizeth Cardoso, in a ceremony at the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro. Paulinho da Viola recorded for the first time with one of his songs, Sonho Triste, on the LP A Voz do Morro, Vol. 1. Praised by Jacob do Bandolim as the best accompanist at the cavaquinho, Do Cavaquinho participated with some of the most important and historical samba acts like Rosa de Ouro, A Voz do Morro, and Os Cinco Crioulos, and had as his partners sambistas like Nelson Cavaquinho, Zé Kéti (Maria), and Nelson Sargento.

Born in the Madureira suburb, Jair do Cavaquinho frequented the Portela samba school beginning at the age of seven, taken by his mother and older sisters, who paraded at the Ala das Baianas. He taught himself to play an instrument he had built, it resembled a cavaquinho. In 1962, his first composition, Barracão de Zinco, was recorded by Jamelão. In 1965, Do Cavaquinho participated in the two volumes of the LP A Voz do Morro. With Nelson Cavaquinho, he wrote Vou Partir, Eu e As Flores, and Enquanto a Cidade Dorme, the latter recorded by Haroldo Santos. With Nelson Sargento, he wrote Ela Deixou, recorded by Elizeth Cardoso on her Elizeth Sobe o Morro. Cardoso recorded on the same album another four compositions of his: Pecadora, Vou Partir, Eu e As Flores, and Meu Viver. In 1965, Do Cavaquinho participated with Paulinho da Viola, Elton Medeiros, Nelson Sargento, and Anescar do Salgueiro in the musical +Rosa de Ouro, organized by Hermínio Bello de Carvalho, which relaunched Araci Cortes and introduced Clementina de Jesus. Do Cavaquinho also participated in the group Voz do Morro, with Zé Kéti, Oscar Bigode, José Cruz, Nelson Sargento, Paulinho da Viola, Anescar do Salgueiro, and Elton Medeiros; they recorded the LPs Roda de Samba, Vol. 1, which had his Pecadora (written with Joãozinho) and Meu Viver (written with Elton Medeiros/Kleber Santos), and Roda de Samba, Vol. 2. In 1967, his composition E a Rosa Voltou was recorded on the LP Rosa de Ouro, Vol. 2. Still in 1967, he participated in the group Os Cinco Crioulos. In 1969, his samba-enredo Treze Naus won the internal contest of Portela, having been presented by the school in the annual parade. In the '70s, he also participated, with composers of other samba schools, in the group Cinco Só. In 2000, Marquinhos de Oswaldo Cruz recorded Enquanto a Cidade Dorme on his CD Uma Geografia Popular. In 2001, Do Cavaquinho performed with Dauro do Salgueiro, Nei Lopes, Nelson Sargento, Dona Ivone Lara, Baianinho, Niltinho Tristeza, Casquinha, Zé Luiz, Nilton Campolino, Monarco, Elton Medeiros, Luiz Grande, Jurandir da Mangueira, and Aluízio Machado in a show and on the CD for it, Meninos do Rio, at the Banco do Brasil culture center, in Rio de Janeiro. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi