1973 - The Tragedy In The Country Music Community - Cold Blooded Murder

 It isn't a secret, but it's a story that isn't talked about today. 

STRINGBEAN & Wife Estelle 

In the 60's life in Nashville. TN was a wonderful place to be, country music was thriving and on Television The Saturday Night Hee Haw show, and later, the likes of Porter Wagoner, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dolly Parton were a Saturday night event for many families.  One favorite in those times was Stringbean, (David Akeman).  His signature hat and 5 string banjo with baggy old pants with a humorous story and songs to tell and sing captivated America, especially the South.  He was beloved by all that met him, or even saw him on various television programs.  People wrote into Hee Haw programmers and other shows requesting him.  He was one of the most loved singers during that time, but sadly his days of fame have fallen away since his death.  But even in death he left a captivating story. 

Stringbean grew up during the depression, life was hard and he never lived above his means, or even close to it.  He and his wife Estelle could have had a fancy house and car based off his earnings, but they lived in a simple sprawling cabin house in Ridgeton, TN.  Most Saturday nights they made their way to appear on the Hee Haw show.  November 10, 1973, was no different at the start of the night, but returning home on that fateful day, Stringbean was shotdown inside the doorway of their home and Estelle was shot outside. 

There had been rumors that Stringbean didn't trust banks and kept all his money hidden in the walls of their home, and Marvin and John Brown acting in cold blood ransacked and took money from the house and then killed them.  They were caught and sent to prison, but the joke was on them ultimately, they did fine some cash that they spent before being caught, but most of the money had been hidden behind the chimney and in the walls.  It was rumored that there was at a minimum 20,000 found,, but many say there was much more.  

The horror of what happened to Stringbean set the Nashville music stars on edge, they felt robbed of a dear friend and musician, and wondered if such could happen to such a man of simple means, what could happen to them. It was a trying time in Nashville.  

The trial was messy, details sketchy at best of what happened that dreadful night, and people were saddened that such a wonderful, kind and gentle man could be killed in cold blood.  It wasn't enough that people were charged and convicted, that could not bring back the man that people loved on the Saturday Nights.  

A man was mourned, a wife was mourned, both simple people that loved life and music, and preferred raising chickens and vegetables to cadillacs and fancy houses, two lives lost that would ultimately change the face of country music artists lives.  

While Stringbean isn't known by many people today, in the heart of the south great grandparents and some grandparent's still talk about Stringbean, and of course in the South, Country Music Legends never really die, they are kept alive through those that loved them and their music. 

In the south we say, "Good Man", and Stringbean sure was one of the best of the "Good Men".  

If you are looking for a song of his, listen to his Fishing Song, while humorous, it's also true, especially in the south where country music, fishing and neighborly love thrive. 

Long live the "story and music of Stringbean" and his beautiful wife Estelle. 

Tune In To Party Central Radio, where the legends never die. 
//dj candy//