David Akeman

David Akeman was an American comedy musician born in 1913 in Annville, Kentucky. Akeman was famous for his appearances on the television show Hee Haw. While playing semi-pro baseball, he met bluegrass star Bill Monroe. From there, he began to play the banjo for Monroe’s band from 1943 to 1945. He also worked with Willie Egbert Westbrook under the moniker of String Beans and Cousin Wilbur. In 1973, Akeman and his wife Estelle were murdered by burglars in Ridgetop, Tennessee.