Shandong Kuaishu performance artist Mr. Niu Deseng passed away in Chengdu at 6:10 am on March 11, 2024 at the age of 96.
Niu Dezeng, a member of the Communist Party of China, is of Manchu origin. His ancestral home is Wanping, Hebei. He was born in Chenggu, Shaanxi in 1927. At the age of 8, he became famous as a clown in Qin opera. He joined the army in Sichuan during the middle of the Anti-Japanese War and became famous for his one-man show. After 1949, he performed Yangge opera in the army, integrating editing, directing and performing. He began to engage in folk art in 1951, and his songs such as Shu Lai Bao's "Warrior's Home" were very popular. In 1953, he became a disciple of Gao Yuanjun, a master of Shandong Kuaishu. He performed traditional works such as "The Legend of Wu Song", "Li Kui Seizes the Fish", "Ruda Kills the Hegemon" and modern works such as "Capturing Prisoners", "A Cart of Sorghum Rice", "Fierce Battle in the Sky" and "Li Sanbao". "Challenge" and so on, singing all over the mountains and rivers of the Southwest. Due to his strong foundation in skills and bright voice, coupled with diligent practice, learning from others' strengths, and humbly learning from the audience, he sang his own "handsome, crisp, bright, and gimmick" style, and made northern music take root, blossom, and bear fruit in the south. Cultural scholar Che Hu even made a special trip to write an inscription for him: "The first person to enter Sichuan with express writing". Due to his outstanding contribution, he received 3 meritorious services and 6 awards in the military region. In the past 40 years, he has performed his own programs such as "Gift Giving" and "Rolling Waves", and won many awards in the army and the province. The compiled and processed Shandong Kuaishu "The Complete Biography of Wu Song" was the first record of a long-form broadcast of rhyme and recitation on Sichuan Station. He has published more than 30 review articles such as "A Preliminary Study of Martial Arts Novels" in various newspapers and periodicals, and has published a book of 200,000 words of essays "Yipin".
Mr. Niu Deseng was rated as a national first-class actor. He once served as the artistic director of the Chengdu Military Region's Zhanqan Art Troupe and the captain of the folk art team. He has been reported and commended by newspapers, magazines and radio stations more than 30 times. His name has also been included in many "Who's Who in Literature and Art" and local chronicles. He was absorbed as a member of the Chinese Quyi Artists Association, the Popular Literature Society, the Popular Novel Society, the Sichuan Dramatists Association, and the Sichuan Poetry Society. He also served as the vice chairman of the Sichuan Quyi Artists Association, a director of the China Shandong Kuaishu Research Association, and the Sichuan Voice Research Association. Director, Secretary General of Sichuan Aviation Association, Director of Sichuan Huangpu Military Academy Alumni Association, Director of Erye Military University Alumni Association, etc.
After retiring in 1992, Mr. Niu Deseng actively established the Sichuan Anti-Japanese War Association and later went to the United States to give lectures for two years. In 2001, he was awarded the title of "Special Contribution Artist for the 50th Anniversary of New China's Folk Art" by the China Music Association.
Deeply mourn the loss of Mr. Niu Deseng!
(Source: Quyi Magazine Fusion Media)
