Elias Kaufman 1939-2025

[Joel Hooks]

I'm going to miss my friend Elias Kaufman. We used to have phone calls that would last past 2 in the morning. Not only was Eli a great man with a good sense of humor, he was the database of banjo history. A direct tie to the "classic banjo" era. He and Madeleine were the ABF for decades, and because of them a HUGE amount of banjo history and knowledge was preserved and passed on.

He was always generous with his vast knowledge of the banjo (and various other subjects).

And if that was not enough, there are untold numbers of people who have healthy teeth thanks to him. He taught dentists how to be dentists.

The American Banjo Fraternity Rallies will not be the same without him.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/buffalonews/name/elias-kaufman...

[nick Kelly]

I guess you have the wrong date.

[Joel Hooks]

Corrected 

nick Kelly said:

I guess you have the wrong date.

[thereallyniceman]

This is such sad news. Thank you for letting us know Joel. If there were any questions that we needed expert answers to... the answers were from Eli.

We keep losing these people from the Classic Banjo World so let us hope that new enthusiasts are still there before the Classic Style is lost for ever.

I never thought I would say it but: Thank goodness for the Internet!!!!!

[Jody Stecher]

When I first got interested in classic banjo music Eli answered my questions in complete detail, first in hand written letters and  later in email messages.  He would include anything tangential to my questions and things tangential to the tangents. He was a generous fount of banjo knowledge.  He sent me sheet music as well, some of which I would not have been likely to discover on my own.  We discussed technique, repertoire, banjo models, banjo players, notation, strings, bridges....everything and anything.   I agree, Joel:  a great man.   

[Joel Hooks]

Eli's generosity and endless fount of info has been a big influence on me.  My hyper focus shifted from "early rimmed banjos" to the classic era under guidance of Eli.  I would keep a list of things to ask him about during our legendarily long phone calls (and sometimes zoom).

This inspiration might be why I tend to overshare with info.  

And it was not just banjo, he could talk Spanish guitar too (and pretty much any other subject). 

I met Eli and Madeleine the same weekend I met my wife.  It was at the Banjo Collector's Gathering in Nashville.  We knew of each other (Eli and I) but had not met.  He focused right in on me.  I had been told by various people to "stay away" from the ABF-- mostly because at the time I was reading A notation (what I was told was all false BTW).  Eli got me to join and was an enabler of my A notation reading (sending me a stack of manuscript transcriptions to play in addition to the A notation version of the Weidt tutor). 

Our friendship continued via phone discussions.  After moving to New England, I attended my first ABF rally.  Planning for that rally, I started learning to read in C (I figured I should speak the language). 

It turned out that "A" was generally (and correctly) accepted just as legitimate as C among the ABF (I had been told that A was not allowed or something). 

Eli even gave me a Clamp piccolo banjo as he wanted me to sit next to him and play in the banjo orchestra (which was the condition of the gift).

Eli and Madeleine knew many of the "greats"-- and were happy to share stories about them.  I feel fortunate to now be a link in that chain thanks to Eli's mentorship.

[Trapdoor2]

RIP. I always enjoyed being talked to (getting a word in edgewise was difficult) by Eli. He was a fount of information and a nice guy.

[Shawn McSweeny]

I first met Eli at the banjo collector's gathering in 2003. He and Madeleine approached me- the new-comer - and were very personable. With our mutual interests in 19th c. banjos and banjo history, he became a friend and mentor. Living not far from Buffalo, over the years I visited on a number of occasions. It was through Eli that I joined the ABF and attended Rallies for many years.

On banjo history, Eli was a font of knowledge - and could effortlessly drown you with his stream of anecdotes. He was always friendly and generous, had a great passion for the banjo and loved to share it. 

[Richard William Ineson]

Sad news, I met Eli and Madeleine at the ABF get together in Gettysburg in1993, I was there with Paul Whyman to play some Cammeyer pieces which we had been playing at that time. We had a good time and Eli was always around chatting about banjo matters and generally making us welcome. Our friendship continued over the ensuing years with much correspondence and the eagerly awaited '5 Stringer'. He will be missed.

[TONY BRYAN]

That’s very sad news about Eli Kaufman. He was one of those people who could calmly encourage and inspire, no matter what aspect of the banjo you were interested in. As well as profiting from an exchange of correspondence, Cathie and I spent some fondly-remembered time with Eli and Madeleine when they last came to England (see picture), and we were ecouraging them to repeat the trip when they were thinking of one not so long ago. Again, very sad, and our hearts go out to Madeleine and the family – children and grandchildren – we are thinking of you all. Tony and Cathie