Abao

Abao was born in the outskirts of Datong, Shanxi on 27 February 1969. He enrolled at Datong Arts School when he was twelve, and graduated in 1986. ==Career==

After graduating, at the age of 17, he began to sing in a music bar in Datong, later joining a travelling troupe, singing at weddings and other occasions in villages around the country. In 2004, Abao was performing in Beijing when he was spotted by a producer of a TV show. and won the contest, beating the duo Phoenix Legend. After winning the title, Abao performed regularly on television for many years, including the 2006 ''CCTV New Year's Gala. He released his second album in 2006. He has also appeared as a judge on various television shows, including Xingguang Dadao''. ==Performance style==

Abao has a wide vocal range, and sings in a distinctive high-pitched voice. His style of singing is a mix of folk styles of Shanxi, Mongolia, and in particular the Xintianyou style of Shaanxi. Abao typically performs dressed as a peasant from Shaanxi, wearing a sheepskin jerkin with black pants, and a white towel knotted on his head. Nevertheless, his popularity changed the flavours of those folk songs performed by other folk singers, a process described as the "Abao phenomenon" by a scholar. ==Discography==

• Abao《阿宝》(2005) • Xiang qinqin xiang zai xinyan yanshang《想亲亲想在心眼眼上》(2006) • Lei dandan《泪蛋蛋》(2012) • Nongye zhongjinshu 《农业重金属》(2014) Songs • 为你跑成罗圈腿 == References ==