Abreu, Zequinha

Zequinha de Abreu (1880–1935) was a Brazilian musician and composer who made his mark on music history primarily as the author of the famous composition Tico-Tico no Fubá. From a young age, he devoted himself to playing the piano, clarinet, and flute. He grew up in an environment where European musical traditions intertwined with Brazilian rhythms and melodies, which was also reflected in his own work. Abreu became a prominent figure in the choro genre, one of the oldest styles of Brazilian popular music, which combines virtuoso melodies with dance energy and improvisational ease. His Tico-Tico no Fubá became not only an icon of Brazilian music, but also a global evergreen that inspired countless arrangements and recordings by classical performers, jazz musicians, and pop stars.