Lela Violão, born Manuel Tomás da Cruz (January 18, 1929[1] – April 5, 2009) was a Cape Verdean singer and composer.
Lela Violão was born on the island of São Vicente, his father was Tomás Manuel da Cruz and his mother was Isabel Ana Oliveira.
Lela started playing the violin at 8 years old, he brought a large generation of musicians and composers which performed festivals and series.
[3] He recorded his only disc when he was 78, the CD featured 12 singles with Cape Verdean traditional music, Chamado Caldo de Rabeca (fiddle, stringed instrument), the disc was made in partnership of a musician of Czech origin Martin Schaefer, known for his creations within gypsy music in Central Europe.
He was a professional carpenter, Lela Violão, lived long in the city of Praia with huge financial difficulties.