Zequinha de Abreu (1880 – 1935) was one of the prominent Brazilian composers. His most famous composition, "Tico-tico No Fubá" (known abroad as "Tico-Tico"), is today still recorded by great artists worldwide, from all styles. At five, he was already a music enthusiast, spending hours delightfully watching musicians play. In this period, he was given a little harmonica, on which he quickly learned to play simple melodies. At seven, began to take music classes. At this time, he organized a little band with his classmates at school.

Around 1915, he had already written nearly 100 compositions. In 1917, he played with his orchestra a new composition, still unnamed, at a ball. This jumpy, fast-tempo song made the dancing couples go crazy in the ballroom. He commented to his bandmates that those people were just like tico-ticos (a kind of little bird) eating corn meal. When he asked for suggestions about the song's name, his bassist Artur de Carvalho replied that he had already named it: "Tico-tico No Fubá."

In 1942, "Tico-tico No Fubá" was recorded for the first time, with its "official" lyrics, by Ademilde Fonseca, "the Queen of Choro."

Tico Tico has been arranged as a cornet solo and is popular on the brass band concert circuits. On this show it is played as a tuba solo.