Reuben Kee

Reuben Kee En Rui (; 9 July 1984 – 23 November 2007) was a Singaporean dragon-boat paddler, composer and part-time model. He was also known for contributions within the M.U.G.E.N community. As a musician, he released remixes of video game music and was a member of OverClocked ReMix. He was fluent in Chinese and English.

Early life Kee was born to Freddie Kee Thiam Hock 紀添福, and mother, Patsy Kee. He was the youngest of two children, with an elder sister, Shimona Kee En Ci. His name is commonly seen shortened to just "Reu".

Career

Music Drawn to music which he heard in video games, Kee developed his own arrangements and variations based on them.

Furthering his skills as a self-taught pianist throughout the years, he was given the opportunity to be President of the Piano Ensemble at Nanyang Polytechnic, venturing into composing a variety of music including orchestra, electronic, rock, jazz, hip hop, techno and many other genres. He presented some of his musical work through his site on occasion, the majority of which lied in remixes of video game music.

Kee also joined Yamaha's Magic Fingers 2003 contest and made through the quarter and semi-finals to make it into the finals and top 8.

During that same year, Kee was also involved in composing and arranging the soundtrack of a project mod for the Operation Flashpoint engine for the Singapore Armed Forces and public awareness. The project was developed by Kee's university, Nanyang Polytechnic, and later submitted to the 2007 Independent Games Festival's Mod Competition.

In 2005 Kee collaborated with Jillian Aversa on a piano rendition of a song composed by Yasunori Mitsuda.

His father stated of him regarding his music that "he was a very responsible boy. I don't spoil my children, his keyboard was the most expensive thing I had ever bought him. He made good use of it, teaching himself how to play and giving other people lessons as well,"

In an e-mail sent to The Straits Times by the artistic director of theatrical group Act 3 International, Ruby Lim-Yang, Reu was cited as a gifted composer. Kee had assisted Yang on a children's musical in the past. a movie based on the true story of Ratana, a 12-year-old Cambodian girl living in an impoverished rural village. The original soundtrack was Reuben's first venture into the film industry.

Modelling As a part-time model, Kee became a 1st runner-up and the winner of Mr. Physique in Mr. Singapore World 2006 pageant. The year after, Kee was Singapore's contestant at the Mister World 2007 Male Pageant which was held on 31 March 2007 in the tropical island of Sanya.

Athletic and educational activities Reu involved himself in several athletic activities including sprint kayaking and dragon boat racing. Kee was also a member of Singapore National Dragon Boat team, and competed in several events.

On weekends, he taught disabled children how to swim.

Reu served a role as the head prefect of San Yu Adventist School, and was also the co-captain of Polytechnic's dragon boat team, overlooking 50 juniors. Said juniors went on to state they saw him as a role model. According to Ivan Ho, Polytechnic's sports facilities officer, he was a dynamic leader that "always gave 110 percent", and went on to point out he was both well-liked and the designer of the team's T-shirt logo.