Stringbean

Younger enthusiasts of country music knew David Akeman, widely recognized as Stringbean, as a leading comedic force both on the Grand Ole Opry and on the Hee Haw television series, where he appeared among its founding performers. His banjo work, however, originated in the 1940s during a three-year association with Bill Monroe.

Born into a farm household in Annville within Jackson County, Kentucky, Akeman developed an early fascination with music, unsurprising given that his father performed on banjo at neighborhood gatherings and that accomplished local musicians surrounded him, all of whom shaped his style. At seven he constructed his initial instrument from a shoebox strung with thread supplied by his mother; by twelve he exchanged two prized bantams he had raised for a genuine banjo. Already performing at community dances and gaining notice on the instrument without yet supporting himself, he later labored for the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps on road construction and tree planting.

Entry into a talent contest judged by singer-guitarist-musical saw player Asa Martin brought victory and membership in Martin’s band. During one appearance the leader forgot Akeman’s name and introduced him as “String Beans,” a moniker that fit his tall, slender build and remained permanent.

Initially restricted to banjo within the ensemble, Akeman was pressed into singing and comedy when another performer failed to arrive; the new material proved popular. Thereafter he balanced comedy with music while also achieving modest success as a semipro baseball player. Radio work on WLAP in Lexington, Kentucky, and engagements with assorted ensembles occupied the late 1930s. At that time the banjo had nearly vanished from country music, yet veteran players such as Akeman sustained its presence.

Curiously, Monroe first noticed Akeman through semipro baseball rather than musicianship, since Monroe sponsored his own sandlot team. Awareness of Akeman’s musical abilities soon followed, leading to full membership in Monroe’s group from 1943 to 1945, during which Akeman contributed to recordings including “Goodbye Old Pal.” He also teamed periodically with Willie Egbert Westbrook as the comedy duo String Beans and Cousin Wilbur, frequently sharing bills with Monroe’s outfit.

Departure from Monroe occurred in 1945; Earl Scruggs, whose technique differed markedly, took his place. That year Akeman married Estelle Stanfill. In 1946 he began collaborating with Grandpa Jones, whose full name was Louis Marshall Jones and who shared Akeman’s affinity for old-time banjo and comedy. Later in the decade Akeman partnered with Lew Childre and became a regular on the Grand Ole Opry. By then he had adopted the nightshirt-and-trousers costume that created the illusion of a very tall man with abbreviated legs, a style inspired directly by earlier stage comedian Slim Miller.

Following the war Akeman became a protégé of Uncle Dave Macon, one of the Grand Ole Opry’s major stars. Macon, who died in 1952, was himself a banjo-playing comic beloved by Opry audiences; he mentored Akeman with stories, jokes, and songs and eventually presented him with one of his own banjos.

Already known professionally as Stringbean, Akeman ranked among the Opry’s leading attractions throughout the 1950s. Solo recording began only in the early 1960s after he signed with the Starday label. Although Scruggs dominated banjo playing for younger listeners, Akeman retained an audience for his earlier approach and for his blend of rustic humor and song. Hits included “Chewing Gum” and “I Wonder Where Wanda Went,” and he released seven albums from 1961 to 1972. The debut, Old Time Pickin’ & Grinnin’ with Stringbean (1961), captured his typical repertoire of folk material, especially humorous animal songs, tall tales, and jokes; later releases such as Salute to Uncle Dave Macon (1963) and Old Time Banjo Picking and Singing (1964) also remain noteworthy. During this period Akeman and Jones stood as the foremost proponents of old-time banjo playing.

Akeman stayed an Opry mainstay until his death; in 1969 he and Jones joined the original cast of Hee Haw. His elongated silhouette, puzzled expression, and self-deprecating quips quickly made him one of the program’s most popular figures.

Tragedy ended the career on November 10, 1973. Returning from an Opry performance, Akeman and his wife Estelle surprised two burglars; the intruders shot Akeman immediately and then killed his wife while she fled. Grandpa Jones discovered the bodies the following day, and the murders reverberated through Nashville. Although the two brothers responsible received life sentences, the convictions brought little consolation to Akeman’s colleagues. His legacy persists through the Monroe recordings on which he performed and the modest number of his own albums still available.