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Henry Horenstein
Stringbean, Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Tennessee, 1972
| Called Stringbean for his long and lanky look, David Aikeman was a comedian and banjo player in the old-time country tradition. He told corny jokes and "frailed" his instrument, strumming down on the strings and lifting them up—a style that predated modern bluegrass banjo. In fact, Earl Scruggs, who popularized "modern" bluegrass banjo, replaced Aikeman as the banjo player with Bill Monroe in 1945. While not known as a recording artist, Stringbean was popular in live performance. He was widely admired for his role as a cast member of the Hee Haw television show and as a member of the Grand Ole Opry (1948–1973). |
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