During this time, he worked for the DAER (Departamento de Estradas de Rodagem) for six years. He left to try a singing career on the radio. Teixeirinha met his wife Zoraida Lima Teixeira in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, as he traveled through various cities singing on local radio stations trying to start his artistic career. They married in 1957 and moved to Soledade. They then moved to the city of Passo Fundo where Teixeirinha sang on the Municipal Radio of Passo Fundo. Teixeirinha received his first invitation to record in 1959. He recorded "Xote Soledade" and "Briga no Batizado", (Fight at the Baptism) in São Paulo. Soon after, he wrote Coração de Luto (Mourning or Grieving Heart), which was the first B-side of his fourth album. It has since sold 25 million copies around the world. In 1961, Teixeirinha had sold more than 1 million albums and the recording house couldn't keep up with demand for his recordings.
During this time, he worked for the DAER (Departamento de Estradas de Rodagem) for six years. He left to try a singing career on the radio. Teixeirinha met his wife Zoraida Lima Teixeira in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, as he traveled through various cities singing on local radio stations trying to start his artistic career. They married in 1957 and moved to Soledade. They then moved to the city of Passo Fundo where Teixeirinha sang on the Municipal Radio of Passo Fundo. Teixeirinha received his first invitation to record in 1959. He recorded "Xote Soledade" and "Briga no Batizado", (Fight at the Baptism) in São Paulo. Soon after, he wrote Coração de Luto (Mourning or Grieving Heart), which was the first B-side of his fourth album. It has since sold 25 million copies around the world. In 1961, Teixeirinha had sold more than 1 million albums and the recording house couldn't keep up with demand for his recordings