Oh Ow Kee
Oh Ow Kee (1943 — 5 June 2022), was a Singaporean busker and former karang guni man, taxi driver and clothes seller who performed on Orchard Road by swinging long Woodball Woola chains around his waist and his neck.
Busking[edit]
Prior to retirement, Oh had worked various jobs, including being a taxi driver, a karang guni man and a clothes seller.[1]
After retiring, Oh began swinging Woodball Woola chains, which are long chains of beads, with his wife as a form of exercise. His first set of chains were gifted to him by his friend, who bought them in China.[1] He initially made the chains for sale.[2] He began busking outside the Ngee Ann City shopping centre on Orchard Road and at the Toa Payoh Stadium in 2006.[3] His wife originally busked with him while singing Hakka songs.[4] However, she stopped busking to take care of her grandchildren. He would swing long Woodball Woola chains around his waist and his neck.[1]
Personal life and death[edit]
Oh was married to Hew Lin Yin.[5] They lived together in Toa Payoh.[6] He had several grandchildren, and would teach a few of them how to swing the Woodball Woola chains. He owned about ten sets of Woodball Woola chains.[1]
Oh died on 5 June 2022.[7][8][9]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Goh, Yan Han (8 June 2022). "He was happiest when performing with his beads, says daughter of late Orchard Road busker". The Straits Times. Singapore. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Going ball-istic!". The Straits Times. Singapore. 14 March 2003.
- ^ Lee, Lorraine (8 June 2022). "Orchard Road 'beads uncle' dies aged 80: 'The beads were his life', says family". today. Singapore. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Oh Ow Kee". The Straits Times. Singapore. 9 August 2009.
- ^ Kalaichalvan, Kishore (9 June 2022). "The loss of a 'cultural icon': Orchard Road 'beads uncle' Oh Ow Kee dies at 80". CNA Lifestyle. Singapore. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Woola hula uncle". The Straits Times. Singapore. 5 October 2008.
- ^ Rashid, Amierul (7 June 2022). "Thank you and goodbye: Orchard Road's famous 'giant beads' busking uncle dies at age 80". AsiaOne. Singapore. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ Wong, Casandra (7 June 2022). "Tribute to 'hardworking' Orchard Road 'Busking Uncle' who dies at 80". Yahoo! News. Yahoo!. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "视"木珠"如命 木珠呼啦圈对乌节路"卖艺老伯"有多重要？". 8 World. Singapore. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.