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
editPrior 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
editOh 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]
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.