Irving Kaufman (singer)

Irving Kaufman
Kaufman circa 1919
Background information
Birth name	Isidore Kaufman
Born	February 8, 1890 Syracuse, New York United States
Died	January 3, 1976 (aged 85)
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1914–1949
Labels	Victor Columbia Edison Gennett Aeolian Banner Oriole Vocalion

Irving Kaufman born Isidore Kaufman Syracuse, New York (February 8, 1890 – January 3, 1976) was a prolific early twentieth century singer, recording artist and Vaudeville performer. The son of Russian Jewish immigrants, he was a member of The Kaufman Brothers, along with his brothers Phillip and Jack.^[1]

Kaufman began recording in 1914, and recorded for Victor, Columbia, Vocalion, Gennett, Edison, Harmony, as well as all of the dime labels (Banner, Perfect, etc.). Early in his career, when recording for Edison and RCA Victor, he recorded under his own name, but he also used a number of (non-Jewish-sounding) aliases.^[2][3] Sometimes, as in the case of several of his 1927 "Broadway Bell-Hops" vocals, he was merely credited as "Vocal Chorus". He was often credited as "vocal refrain by George Beaver" on the dime store labels.

Kaufman was a singer in the vaudeville style; certainly not considered a jazz singer, he nonetheless sang on recordings accompanied by some of the foremost jazz figures of the 1920s, including Leon "Bix" Beiderbecke, Frank Trumbauer, The Dorsey Brothers, Red Nichols, Miff Mole, and Eddie Lang. His voice recorded well - both acoustically and electrically - and was one of the most prolific singers during the 1920s.

Kaufman retired after a heart attack in 1949, and made no further commercial recordings until 1974, when a 2-LP set titled Reminisce With Irving Kaufman was released. It consisted mostly of transcriptions of his old recordings, but included several new cuts of Kaufman singing, accompanied by his second wife, Belle Brooks (1904–93). Upon retirement, he lived in Palm Springs, California.^[4] He died January 3, 1976 in Indio, California.^[5]

References

1. Gracyk, Tim. "Irving Kaufman (8 February 1890 - 3 January 1976)". Popular American Recording Artists. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
2. "Irving Kaufman as Lazy Dan". The LAB On-Line Photo Archive. Library of American Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
3. Barna, Ryan (22 November 2010). "The Final Years of Irving Kaufman: An Illustrated Discography (1938-1974)". Phonostalgia. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
4. "Palm Springs Home To Radio Veterans: Stars of 'Golden Era'". Pittsburg Post-Gazette. AP. December 18, 1974. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
5. Barna, Ryan. "Irving Kaufman". FindAGrave.com. Retrieved 5 September 2013.

External links

• American Recording Pioneers
• Popular American Recording Pioneers, 1895-1925
• Irving Kaufman at the Internet Movie Database
• Irving Kaufman at Find a Grave