Shang Yexing

Shang Yexing came from Xishang village in Shikou, Dongying, Shandong. Orphaned at six, he was raised by an uncle who sang qinshu, travelled with him as a performer, knew many pieces by eleven or twelve and was performing on his own before twenty. Refining his uncle's melodies into a graceful, varied style, he made his music popular in Guangrao, Boxing and the Jiaodong peninsula, where it became known as Eastern Road qinshu or Shang-school qinshu. In 1922 in Jinan he married Guan Yunxia, a yangqin player who became his accompanist and duet partner. Famous for his ringing "iron voice", he sang stories such as Judge Bao, The Hu Family Generals and The Yang Family Generals, some of which were issued on records. He died of illness in 1970.