Stringbean

David Akeman (June 17, 1915 - November 11, 1973) was an American country music banjo player and comedy musician best known for his role on the hit television show, Hee Haw.

Born in Annville, Kentucky, he came from

David Akeman (June 17, 1915 - November 11, 1973) was an American country music banjo player and comedy musician best known for his role on the hit television show, Hee Haw.

Born in Annville, Kentucky, he came from a musical family and was taught to play banjo by his father. Dubbed "Stringbean" because he was so tall and thin, he would become known by that single moniker. During the 1940s, he was a bluegrass banjo player with the band of country singer Bill Monroe. In 1945 he teamed up with Lew Childre to form a comedy duet, and the two were successful enough to be invited to perform on the Grand Ole Opry. Primarily a backup musician or part of the comedy duet, he never recorded any music until the 1960s. In 1969 he became a founding member of the cast of the television show "Hee Haw."