He moved back to California in 1977, settling in the Bay Area, where he worked as a session musician on dozens of records and national television and radio ads.
He moved to the East Bay in 1985, where he lives with his wife Lisa Goulder, a singer, songwriter, pianist and a longtime voice and piano instructor.
In 1991 Elman won The San Francisco Examiner's contest to come up with a nickname for the three stars of the Golden State Warriors: Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin.
Elman is currently working on several other books: two middle grade-young adult novels, a collection of biographical vignettes, a cookbook and his memoirs of an American rock and roll musician.
Elman is currently teaching 14 different adult classes on the history, role and importance of contemporary popular music at universities and other venues in the Bay Area.