The late crosstalk artist Hou Yaowen would have turned 60 on July 17, and to celebrate his life a special concert will be held by his students and colleagues to honor his contribution to the Chinese performance art.

Hou Yaowen died from heart disease on June 23 at his home in Beijing, aged 59. He was the latest of a number of leading performers of Xiangsheng, a type of humorous word play, to die in recent years.

Wang Hai, the representative of crosstalk star Guo Degang, said Guo and other students of Hou Yaowen planned a grand party to celebrate their teacher's birthday.

However, Hou Yaowen's sudden death shocked them all. But they resolved to resume theirs plan to give everyone a chance to remember the artist.

Some of Hou Yaowen's colleagues from the China Railway Art Troupe will take part in the event.

The show will be staged at PLA Theatre in Beijing. Wang Hai said the performers have yet to decide whether to perform some of Hou Yaowen's famous pieces.

Because of the public interest in Hou Yaowen, the show will be broadcast live on Sina.com, Wang Hai added.

(Xinhua News Agency July 13, 2007)