David "Stringbean" Akeman

David Akeman (June 17, 1915 – November 10, 1973) better known as Stringbean (or String Bean), was an American singer-songwriter, musician, comedian, and semiprofessional baseball player best known for his role as a main cast member on the hit television show Hee Haw and as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Akeman was well known for his "old-fashioned" banjo-picking style, careful mix of comedy and music, and his memorable stage wardrobe (which consisted of a long nightshirt tucked into a pair of short blue jeans belted around his knees — giving him the comical appearance of a very tall man with stubby legs).

He appeared on WLAP-AM in Lexington, Kentucky and played with several groups in the late 1930s.

Akeman also played semiprofessional baseball.

As a ballplayer, he met bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe, who fielded with another semipro team.

From 1943 to 1945, Akeman played banjo for Monroe's band, performing on recordings such as "Goodbye Old Pal".

He also teamed with Willie Egbert Westbrook as String Beans and Cousin Wilbur, a comedy duo who appeared on the same bill as Monroe's band.

When he left Monroe, he was replaced by Earl Scruggs, a banjoist with a very different style.

In 1945, Akeman married Estell Stanfill.

The same year, he formed a comedy duet with Willie Egbert Westbrook, and they were invited to perform on the Grand Ole Opry.

The following year, Akeman began working with Grandpa Jones, another old-time banjo player and comedian.

Jones and Akeman worked together at the Opry and many years later on the Hee Haw television series.

They also became neighbors in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.

Akeman became a protégé of Uncle Dave Macon, one of the biggest Opry stars.

Near the end of his life, Macon gave Akeman one of his prized banjos.

Akeman, by now known only as Stringbean, was one of the Opry's major stars in the 1950s.

He adopted a stage costume that accentuated his height—a shirt with an exceptionally long waist and tail, tucked into a pair of short blue jeans belted around his knees.

The costume had many antecedents, including Slim Miller, a onetime stage comedian said to be Akeman's inspiration.

Akeman did not record as a solo artist until the early 1960s, when he was signed by the Starday label.

Akeman remained a celebrated performer of the old-fashioned banjo playing, "clawhammer" or "frailing".

In addition to his skill as a clawhammer player, Akeman also frequently played two-finger banjo, using thumb and forefinger.

Akeman is listed with Uncle Dave Macon, Grandpa Jones, and Ralph Stanley as the greatest old-time style banjo pickers.

Akeman kept his audience with his traditional playing and his mixture of comedy and song.

He scored country-chart hits with "Chewing Gum" and "I Wonder Where Wanda Went".

The first, Old Time Pickin' & Grinnin' with Stringbean (1961), included folk songs (especially humorous animal songs), tall stories, and country jokes.

Between 1962 and 1971, he recorded seven albums.

In 1969, Akeman and Grandpa Jones became cast members of a new television show entitled Hee Haw.

One of his regular routines was reading a "letter from home" to his friends.

Asked about the latest letter, Stringbean would take it out, saying he carried it "right next to my heart".

Akeman and his wife were shot and murdered by burglars in their rural Tennessee home near Ridgetop in 1973.

Born in Annville, Akeman came from a musical family, including his father, James Akeman, who played the banjo at local dances.

He got his first banjo when he was 12 years old in exchange for a pair of prize bantam chickens.

Akeman began playing at local dances and gained a reputation as a musician, but the income was not enough to live on.

He joined the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps, building roads and planting trees.

Eventually, he entered a talent contest judged by Asa Martin.

He won and was invited to join Martin's band.

During an early appearance, Martin forgot Akeman's name and introduced him as "String Bean" because of his tall, thin build.

Akeman used the nickname the rest of his career.

Akeman originally was only a musician, but when another performer failed to show up one night, he was used as a singer and comic.

From then, Akeman did both comedy and music.