Vaçe Zela

Vaçe Zela (Albanian: [vaˈtʃɛ zɛla]; 7 April 1939 – 6 February 2014) was an Albanian singer and songwriter. She was a leading figure in the music industry and is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century in the Albanian-speaking world. Born in Lushnjë and raised in Tirana within Communist Albania, she developed a great interest in music at an early age before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1962. An eleven-time winner, she built her reputation as a highly successful musician by winning the first edition of Festivali i Këngës as well as her future victories in the festival.Zela is the recipient of significant awards and decorations amongst them the Merited Artist Order, People's Artist Order and Honor of Nation Order Order.