In 1996, police discovered remnants of hundreds of dollars stashed in the walls of the Akeman's cabin. Though the killers were caught and convicted, many felt an important link with country music's tradition had been senselessly broken. The two gunmen, John and Doug Brown, were waiting for Stringbean at home after a Saturday-night Opry performance in hopes of robbing him of cash rumored to be hidden in his cabin they came away with a few guns and a chainsaw.
In 1973, the brutal murder of Stringbean and his wife, Estelle Stanfill Akeman, at their remote three-room cabin shocked Nashville's music community. He often teamed with fellow banjoist-comedian Grandpa Jones, with whom he had become a close friend and neighbor. Joining the cast of Hee Haw in 1969 rejuvenated his career, though his comedy was featured more than his music. Stringbean would record later for the Nugget and Cullman labels. His best known album was "A Salute to Uncle Dave Macon", which was released in 1963, and has been later reissued. The first of these was "Old Time Banjo Pickin' and Singin', released in 1960. By the time Macon died in 1952, Stringbean was working as a solo act on the Grand Ole Opry and adapting current songs such as "Hillbilly Fever" to his clawhammer style.įeeling his appeal lay primarily in personal appearances, Stringbean postponed making his own records until 1960, when be began doing a series of albums for Starday Records. The older banjo player taught Stringbean much of his repertoire of old-time banjo songs and even gave him one of his own banjos. Later in the 1940s he teamed with fellow Opry member Lew Childre for a duet act and became a protege of Uncle Dave Macon. After playing banjo for several bands around the Lexington area, he came to Nashville around 1942 and became Bill Monroe's first banjo player. He would grow up in eastern Kentucky and worked in Civilian Conservation Corps camps during the depression before landing his first musical job, as well as his nickname, from country performer Asa Martin. Stringbean was born on Jin Annville, Kentucky. His droll wit and deadpan irony were reflected in signature one-liners such as "Lord, I fell so unneccessary." His distinctive striped shirt, low-belted pants, and funny duckwalk were as familiar as Minnie Pearl's straw hat. But those who saw him perform in person or on Hee Haw realized that he was one of the most original comedians in country music as well as a fine clawhammer banjo player and traditional singer. Too many country fans remember Stringbean only for the way he and his wife died. It was 38 years ago on Novemthat one of the most horrific events in Grand Ole Opry took place as David Akeman, known to all of us as Stringbean, and his wife Estelle were murdered at the home outside of Nashville, after arriving home from the Ryman Auditorium and the Opry.
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