Changes

In Martin's band he only played banjo; he was tasked to do comedy as well when an member fell ill, and the dual act caught on.  His music was picked up by WLAP in Lexington, Kentucky, and during this period he divided his time between his music with various bands and a life playing baseball in semi-pro leagues, and it was on the ball field that Stringbean came to the attention of Bill Monroe, who was considered the father of bluegrass music.  The two years (1943-1945) spent with Monroe produced several hits, among them ''Goodbye Old Pal'', as well as a comedy-music duo with Willie Egbert Westbrook as "String Beans and Cousin Wilbur," and often on the same stage as Monroe's band.

In Martin's band he only played banjo; he was tasked to do comedy as well when an member fell ill, and the dual act caught on.  His music was picked up by WLAP in Lexington, Kentucky, and during this period he divided his time between his music with various bands and a life playing baseball in semi-pro leagues, and it was on the ball field that Stringbean came to the attention of Bill Monroe, who was considered the father of bluegrass music.  The two years (1943-1945) spent with Monroe produced several hits, among them ''Goodbye Old Pal'', as well as a comedy-music duo with Willie Egbert Westbrook as "String Beans and Cousin Wilbur," and often on the same stage as Monroe's band.

During 1946 he fall in with Louis Marshall "Grandpa" Jones, a fellow banjo player who, like Monroe, Martin, and Earl Scruggs (Stringbean's replacement in Monroe's group) sought to keep the banjo in country music.  Both also had a penchant for comedy, and soon Stringbean and Grandpa Jones would be stars on the Opry stage, with Stringbean appearing in an outlandish costume - short pants sewed to a very long shirt - which enhanced his lanky frame.  Throughout this period and into the 1950s, Stringbean was one of the top stars of country music, despite never having done an album in his own right until 1961.  His first, ''Old Time Pickin' & Grinnin' with Stringbean'' (1961), was a collection of folk songs, tall tales, and jokes; ''Salute to Uncle Dave Macon'' (1963) and ''Old Time Banjo Picking and Singing'' (1964) followed, exemplifying the bluegrass that Stringbean was proud of playing.  He also married (in 1946) Estelle Stanfill.

During 1946 he fell in with Louis Marshall "Grandpa" Jones, a fellow banjo player who, like Monroe, Martin, and Earl Scruggs (Stringbean's replacement in Monroe's group) sought to keep the banjo in country music.  Both also had a penchant for comedy, and soon Stringbean and Grandpa Jones would be stars on the Opry stage, with Stringbean appearing in an outlandish costume - short pants sewed to a very long shirt - which enhanced his lanky frame.  Throughout this period and into the 1950s, Stringbean was one of the top stars of country music, despite never having done an album in his own right until 1961.  His first, ''Old Time Pickin' & Grinnin' with Stringbean'' (1961), was a collection of folk songs, tall tales, and jokes; ''Salute to Uncle Dave Macon'' (1963) and ''Old Time Banjo Picking and Singing'' (1964) followed, exemplifying the bluegrass that Stringbean was proud of playing.  He also married (in 1946) Estelle Stanfill.

In 1969, Stringbean, Grandpa Jones, and the bulk of established stars in the Grand Ole Opry created the television series ''Hee Haw'', a weekly variety show containing music and comedy, which introduced country music to a new audience.  In addition to stints of him on the banjo, Stringbean was cast reading humorous "Letters from Home", or dressed up as a scarecrow in the cornfield delivering short jokes, which were panned by a stuffed crow next to him.

In 1969, Stringbean, Grandpa Jones, and the bulk of established stars in the Grand Ole Opry created the television series ''Hee Haw'', a weekly variety show containing music and comedy, which introduced country music to a new audience.  In addition to stints of him on the banjo, Stringbean was cast reading humorous "Letters from Home", or dressed up as a scarecrow in the cornfield delivering short jokes, which were panned by a stuffed crow next to him.