Born in Igarapava, Rodrigues grew up in Nova Europa, a city in the interior of the state of São Paulo, where he lived until 1954.

At the start of the 1960s, he gained popularity in the state capital as a singer on various television programs for new musical talent.

In 1965, he and Elis Regina successfully sang together on "O Fino da Bossa", a television program on TV Record.

In 1966 Jair sang at the "Record Festival" with the song "Disparada" by Geraldo Vandré and Théo de Barros, this time in conjunction with Quarteto Novo.

In 1971, he recorded the samba-enredo Festa para um Rei Negro for GRES Acadêmicos do Salgueiro from Rio de Janeiro.