Slater David Rhea (Chinese: 帅德; pinyin: Shuài Dé; literally: "Handsome Virtue") is an American singer, songwriter and TV personality on national TV in China.[1] Rhea is a performer of Chinese music and has made appearances on China Central Television, China Education Television as well as local and provincial television stations across China.[2][3] Rhea performs in Chinese (primarily Mandarin, but also in Shaanxi dialect),[4]Mongolian, and English.[2][5] While he rose to prominence in China for singing traditional Chinese folk tunes, he also writes and sings Chinese pop and educational music and performs a variety of English-language material including American jazz standards and rock-and-roll.[2][5]
Rhea has been referred to in Chinese and international media as a cultural ambassador and "musical diplomat"[2][1] because of his background in international relations and dream to improve U.S.-China relations through his music and performances.[6] Rhea additionally credits former U.S. Secretary of StateMadeleine Albright, whom he met and sang for in 2016, as an inspiration to pursue a career in cultural diplomacy.[5]
Connection to Xi'an, Shaanxi folk songs, and biangbiang noodles
Rhea writes and explains a "biang" character on Xi'an TV.
Rhea has a close connection with the ancient Chinese capital of Xi'an (and Shaanxi Province) and its culture, having first visited the city and established connections there in 2010.[15] Rhea often sings North Shaanxi folk songs, which he first heard and fell in love with on his first visit to China. His connection to Xi'an and Shaanxi Province is often discussed in his TV appearances,[16] including his love of Shaanxi's distinctive cuisine, including roujiamo ("Chinese hamburger"), liangpi (cold noodles), yangrou paomo (lamb stew with bits of crumbled flatbread), fried persimmon cakes, and, most prominently, biangbiang noodles (Shaanxi's famous 'thick-as-a-belt' handmade noodles).[15][16]
The "biang" in biangbiang noodles is known for being one of the most complex Chinese characters;[17] and Rhea made front-page news in Shaanxi province's Chinese Business View when he first wrote the character on CCTV.[18] Show hosts and guests often "test" Rhea's ability to write it, and as a result, Rhea has since been associated with the character in Chinese media. For instance, CCTV host Zhu Jun demonstrated to him how Shaanxi people crouch down to eat the noodles (a folk custom in Shaanxi);[19] in other cases, Rhea has taught other TV personalities, for instance Hong Kong singer Leo Ku, to write the character while reciting a mnemonic poem for remembering the character's 43 strokes.[19]
