Tião Carreiro (real name: José Dias Nunes), born in Monte Azul, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, started to learn how to play the acoustic guitar at a very young age.
Later, only 13, he went to work in the Giglio Circus, where he made a music pair with his cousin Waldomiro.
The circus owner encouraged Tião to learn the viola caipira (a kind of steel ten-string acoustic guitar).
Among the violeiros such as César Menotti & Fabiano, Chitãozinho & Xororó, Milionário e José Rico among others, Tião Carreiro e Pardinho are viewed as one of the most influential songwriters/singers of the Música Sertaneja style of Brazilian popular music.
The complete discography sums to up to 45 albums, being, nowadays, considered to be one of the most influential Brazilian caipira pairs of all time.