Heitor Leite Sodré (Heitor Catumbi) popularized the samba-choro and the samba-de-breque (the break was first inserted in a samba-choro) with his compositions "Comigo Não" (lyrics by Valentina Biosca, recorded by Carmen Miranda) "Exaltação à Bahia," "Roseira Branca," and others. He was the son of the violonista (acoustic guitarist) Manduca Cabeleira and protegé of the violonista Manduca de Catumbi, with whom he learnt to play the cavaquinho.

Since his childhood, he was already playing at parties. In one of them, Eduardo das Neves discovered him, bringing him to the Irmãos Temperani circus when he was ten. Having success, he was immediately hired by the circus owner, who gave him his stage name. In 1912, he wrote his first composition, "Na Caixinha Ninguém Mexe." Around 1915, he became friends with Catullo da Paixão Cearense, João Pernambuco, Bulhões, Bequinho, and Cardoso de Meneses. In the next year, he wrote lyrics for a modinha by Galdino Pimentel which was a success: "Em São Cristóvão Onde Fui Criado." The modinha also had lyrics by Catullo and was named "Templo de Ideal." From 1919 on, he started to participate in Casa Edison recordings playing the violão and the cavaquinho. Some of these recordings were with Ernesto Pimentel, Conjunto do Louro, and Grupo Chiquinha Gonzaga.

In 1927, he started to perform in radio, beginning on the Rádio Sociedade, then on Rádio Clube. In 1931, he went to Rádio Philips and, in the next year, started in the Programa Casé by sharing a sketch with Moreira da Silva. He also worked for the Guanabara, Ipanema, Educadora, and Transmissora radios. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi