Famous Chinese crosstalk performer Hou Yaowen died of heart disease at the age of 59 at his home in Beijing at 6:30 PM Saturday.

Hou, the son of crosstalk master Hou Baolin, had learnt crosstalk since he was young. He started to perform on stage since 1960 and was deeply loved by Chinese and foreign audience.

Hou was also vice chairman of the Chinese Quyi Artists Association. Quyi refers to folk vocal art forms such as ballad singing, story-telling, comic dialogue, clapper talk and crosstalk.

Crosstalk, or xiangsheng, is a language art combining four basic techniques: speech, mimicry, comedy and song. Xiangsheng can be performed by one person or more, but the most common form is two people. Crosstalk performers try to use funny conversations to make the audience laugh.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2007)