Freitinhas, a popular composer of Carnival marchas and music for revues in the early 20th century, took piano classes with Francisco Braga, having written his first song at eight, the valse Treze de Setembro. At 17, he was already acknowledged as a composer, having published in 1912 the valse Tarde and, two years later, Amor Que Engana. At 21, he was hired as a pianist by Casa Wehrs, as a sheet-music demonstrator. Wehrs was the publishing house for his 64 compositions. In the same year, he started to write music for revues and burlettas, the first one being the revue +Zé dos Pacotes (Miguel Santos), followed by +Ai, Zizinha (Freire Júnior) and +Sol Nascente (Carlos Bittencourt/Cardoso de Meneses/Alfredo Pujol), among others.

Also in 1918, he had his first hit with the fox trot Vênus, dedicated to Zezé Leone, winner of the first national beauty contest. In 1921, Freitinhas launched with success his Carnival marchinha Zizinha. He would also have success in this genre with the marcha Dondoca (1927), recorded by Margarida Max in the revue +Sol Nascente; Dorinha, Meu Amor (1929); and Não Faço Questão de Cor (1933), the latter having been awarded by the Carioca mayoralty. Other hits of his were Café Com Leite (1926), Eu Vi Lili (1926), Meu Suquinho (1928), Miserê, O Gaúcho, Um Sonho Bom de Recordar (written with Roberto Roberti/Marques Júnior, 1926), Teu Amor Foi Minha Vida (1927), and Vá Por Mim. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi