Manke Nelis

Manke Nelis (born Cornelis Pieters; 1919-1993) was a Dutch singer in the levenslied genre.

Manke Nelis was born in Groenlo on 16 December 1919 and began his musical career as a bass player, often accompanying his brother-in-law, accordionist Johnny Meijer.

In the 1950s he performed under the stage name Carlo Pietro and started singing the Amsterdam levenslied.

A motorcycle accident in France and a subsequent medical error cost him a leg; he reportedly spent the more than 100,000 guilders he received as compensation within a year.

In 1987 he narrowly survived a bus crash on an American tour with Dutch artists, near San Diego.