Born to a noted family of three-generation folk performing artists in Beijing in 1914, Ma, of ethnic Hui group, took up crosstalking right upon his graduation from a junior middle school.

Ma made his stage debut in 1930 and gradually created his own unique comic style to entertain audiences.

After new China was founded in 1949, he devoted himself to singing praises on new, modern life, with such very popular masterpieces as in praise of residential houses, map sketches, eating sweet rice glue dumplings and buying monkeys. He was adept at making audiences joyous and laugh heartily while he himself stayed self-possessed.

He joined the Tianjin Quyi Ballad Troupe in the early 1950s. Thanks to his unique performing styles, solid learning and skills as well as a wealth of superb experience he accumulated over the past seven decades, he has long been cited both at home and overseas as a top master humorous comedian in China's crosstalking circles.

(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2003)