Manuel Martins Tristão da Silva was born on the 17 July 1927 in the parish of Penha, Lisbon.

Working at a drugstore in Graça, his professional occupations did not stop him from following an artistic career, singing mostly in popular associations, and later in fado houses.

At 22 years old and after serving in the army, he fully dedicated himself to his career, under the decisive influence of his friend José Allabern (a former billiard champion).

In 1936 he was hired to perform on Sunday “matinées” at Café Mondego, in Bairro Alto. In 1954 he was professionally connected to two typical houses, one of which in Bairro Alto, and the other at Calçada do Carriche. Max and Artur Ribeiro gave him their famous "Nem às Paredes Confesso" while Casimiro Ramos and Radamanto, respectively authors of the music and lyrics of " Maria Morena ", gave him another hit which contributed to his fame.

Maestro Belo Marques and the editor Manuel Simões accompanied him during his entire career.

Admitted as an artist at Emissora Nacional, Tristão da Silva would perform in 1955 at Madeira and the following year at Azores. In February 1960, he travelled to Brazil to perform in one of the country’s most important radio and TV networks: TUPI do Rio de Janeiro. He spent around four years in the city, also performing in several Portuguese typical houses and participating in theatre plays, namely with Osvaldo Lousada in a play called "O assunto é mulher ".

In São Paulo, he performed on the radio, TV and the city’s main nightclubs. His Brazilian "tournée" took him to Recife, Baía, Porto Alegre, João Pessoa, Pelotas, Fortaleza and Brasília. In Porto Alegre he was hired for a new tour, this time to perform in Bolivia, Chile, Paraguai, Argentina, Uruguai and Peru.

While staying in Brazil in 1964, Vasco Morgado showed interest in hiring him for the vaudeville play "Férias em Lisboa". Tristão da Silva returned to Lisbon to perform in RTP, the theatre and at Fernanda Maria’s typical house.

Years later he returned to Brazil, where he stayed for some time, receiving the "Sassy" award, given by the state of São Paulo to the city’s best attraction in "Music-Hall".

He died in a terrible car accident in January 1978.