My First Gospel Banjo Picking Songs
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Steve Kaufman was born into a musical family in 1957. His father was a jazz piano player and his mother was
a classically trained pianist. Music was always around. At four Steve started plinking at the piano and did so
for several years. He then moved on to the electric guitar at 10 for a few years and put it away. Next came the
cello in 5th grade for a few years. After this, Steve picked up the acoustic guitar again and with the help of his
older brother Mike, blazed right through a "Folk Guitar" method book. When finished, he thought if this is as
hard as it gets it's not for him. Then his younger brother, Will, started playing the banjo and his instructor told
him he needed a rhythm guitar player to help with his timing. So Steve then picked up his guitar again and got
into the bluegrass rhythm. One day Will brought home a Flatt and Scruggs LP, which featured Doc Watson on
guitar, and Steve was hooked on flatpicking.
Steve practiced hard with his newfound love of music, sometimes up to 8 hours a day. At age 18 he entered
the National Flatpicking Championships in Winfield, KS and made the top 10. The following year was a wash.
In 1977, Steve took 2nd place to Mark O'Conner and in 1978, at 21 years old, he returned to win the championship.
Then after being barred for 5 years he returned on the 6th year to win the 1984 championships again.
Winfield bans the winner for 5 years and they can come back on the 6th year but in 1986 they decided to open
up the contest to everyone and not bar the past years champs. Steve returned to win his goal. He became the
winner and the first and, at this writing, the only Three Time Winner of the National Flatpicking
Championships. He is also noted to have three consecutive wins in the Nationals because he was barred all the
years he did not enter.
Steve continues to work hard in the world of music. He began producing books and videos in 1989 after teaching
private lessons for close to 20 years. His catalog of instructional materials is over 85 items. His listening
CDs and Videos number over 14.
Steve began touring the world conducting seminars, workshops, clinics and concerts in 1990 and after 5 years
he and his wife, Donna, began "Steve Kaufman's Flatpicking Camp". Every other year they have added more
camps into their agenda and now under the title "Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamps" they host a Fingerpicking
Kamp, Flatpicking Kamp, Old Time Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo, Dobro โข Kamp, Fiddle Kamp and Mandolin
Kamp as well. They have grown into the largest Kamps of their kind in the world with students traveling from
around the world to Maryville, Tennessee. In 2002, 2004 and 2006, Steve Kaufman and his wife Donna Dixon
twice received the highest Gold award from a reader's poll in Acoustic Guitar Magazine for running the "Best
Workshops, Seminars and Camps".
Steve stays busy being a husband and father, running his Kamps, tour schedule, writing books and recording
videos and CDs as well as owning and operating The Palace Theater in downtown Maryville, the areas premier
acoustic venue as well as an espresso bar (see www.palacetheater.com).
