Cadete was the most important Brazilian singer of the beginning of the 20th century. Not only was he a talented singer who achieved immense popularity, but he was also the very first Brazilian singer to record cylinders. Together with Baiano, Mário Pinheiro, Nozinho, and Eduardo das Neves, he formed the group of the first Brazilian professional recording singers.

Since he was young, he showed evidence of artistic talent in serenatas around Rio de Janeiro, the city where he moved with his family in 1887. Enrolling at the Military School -- his nickname comes from that -- he soon would abandon it, after having been arrested for insubordination. Became acquainted with Sátiro Bilhar, who introduced him to Catulo da Paixão Cearense, who would be his close friend. In short time he was assimilated by the musical scene, which had as members Anacleto de Medeiros, Irineu de Almeida, Mário Pinheiro, Neco (Manuel Ferreira Capellani), Santos Coelho, Pedro de Alcântara, Juca Kalut, Luís de Souza, Eduardo das Neves, Ernesto Nazaré, Artidoro da Costa, Antônio Carlos, J. Torres, Quincas Laranjeiras, Eduardo Velho, Cantalice, José Belisário, Basílio, J. Garcia Cristo, José Tibúrcio, Gonçalves Camaz, Henrique Dourado, and others. Being a great singer, regular violonista (acoustic guitarist), and good composer, he had an excellent reputation in that period, which yielded the invitation to record the first commercial cylinders in Brazil, by Fred Figner, Casa Edison's (the first recording company of Brazil) owner.

Casa Edison's very first catalog (1902) has Baiano as the first Brazilian singer. After a large selection of opera arias, operetta excerpts, Neapolitan songs, Spanish chants, and other musics, Baiano comes in with 59 phonograms, the "Repertório de Modinhas," which he recorded while accompanying himself at the violão (acoustic guitar), "Ave Maria," "A Mulher," "A Roseira," "A Tarde," "As Balas," "A Borboleta," "A Nota," "Amo Muito," "A Saudade," "Ao Virar," "A Cor Morena," "Bentevi," among others. Six duets by Cadete e Baiano are also listed: "Os 2 Crioulos," "Laura," "Desafio Português," "Serenata No Cemitério," "Chegadinho," and "O Genro e a Sogra." As K.D.T., Cadete figures in the same catalog in several wax plates, big and small, with "A Mulher," "A Roseira," "A Tarde," "Cor Morena," "A Borboleta," "Bentevi," and others.

Cadete was a good verse improviser, always using political situations as the inspiration for his satires, which were sung everywhere in Brazil. As a composer, had a hit with the modinha "O Poeta E A Fidalga" (lyrics by Wanderley II). In 1906, he toured through Maranhão, Ceará, Pará, Amazon, Acre, Argentina, and Uruguay. Catching beriberi in Amazon, he moved to Paraná in 1907 following medical instruction. Becoming a pharmacist there, he continued to visit Rio annually to record, always for Casa Edison. His enormous popularity caused rival companies Victor and Columbia offer him contracts, but he remained faithful to Casa Edison's label Odeon and never recorded with another label. He followed the career of pharmacist successfully and also became a politician. In 1942, he came to Rio for the last time, when performed at the Rádio Nacional. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi