Jacob Hoffman

Jacob "Jakie" Hoffman (, 1897–1974) was a Russian-born American Klezmer and orchestral musician, recording artist, and Xylophone player. He played and recorded with Harry Kandel, Philadelphia klezmer bandleaders of the interwar era, and was the father of Klezmer percussionist Elaine Hoffman Watts and grandfather of Trumpet player Susan Watts.

Biography Hoffman was born in the late 1890s in Bohopil (Bogopol), Podolia Governorate, Russian Empire (today Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine). His father, Joseph Hoffman, was also a musician, and his mother was named Rebecca (née Kaplin). The family emigrated to the United States in June 1904, settling in Philadelphia. His first solo recording was made for Victor in 1917, where he recorded klezmer music on xylophone accompanied by a small orchestra. The following year he also recorded a xylophone solo in a larger medley by Harry Kandel's orchestra.

In June 1922 Hoffman married Bessie Marks. In 1923 he made another klezmer disc for Victor Records. Other orchestras he performed and toured with in the 1950s included the Fiedler Orchestra, the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo, and the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

Hoffman died in Philadelphia of a heart attack on March 20, 1974.

His daughter Elaine Hoffman Watts, a drummer, became an important figure of the Klezmer revival, as did her daughter Trumpet player Susan Watts.