David "Stringbean" Akeman | ||||||
(banjo - 7/1942-9/1945) | ||||||
Publicity photo circa 1944. Click for full version. | ||||||
Born: 6/17/1914 Died: 11/10/1973 As a Blue Grass Boy: Monroe's first banjo player, Akeman played in an old-time clawhammer style, as well as two-finger picking. He also performed comedy skits with "Cousin Wilbur" Wesbrooks. He played on one session as a Blue Grass Boy, recording eight tracks in February 1945. Recording Sessions: 2/13/1945 Before and After: Akeman left the band in the fall of 1945 to form a comedy duet with Lew Childre. They appeared regularly on the Grand Old Opry. Stringbean was later a regular on the TV show "Hee Haw". He and his wife were killed by burglars in their home in 1973.
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