R.I.P. - Zal Yanovsky

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 29 Dec 2002 8:20 pm

Just learned that former Lovin' Spoonful guitarist (and occassional pedal steel guitarist) Zal Yanovsky passed away of a heart attack on December 14.

I was/am a big fan of his.

Joe

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Dec 2002 8:27 pm

Joe,
It turns out quite a few of us were big Zally fans. See this thread:

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum4/HTML/003699.html

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 29 Dec 2002 8:41 pm

Oops....sorry guys! I didn't search for Zally's name under "Events And Announcements"....didn't think the thread would have started there.

While I have no doubt that Sebastian may have played the steel on the Spoonful albums, I am convinced that Zally played the steel on "Brown To Blue," a song from his "Argentina" album.

Believe it or not, just three weeks ago I was given video of him "playing" a steel (looks to be a Fender 400) with the Spoonful on (possibly) Ed Sullivan. The group is playing "Rain On The Roof".

I always looked forward to a trip to Canada just to meet him in person and shake his hand. And he, just like my pedal steel mentor Red Rhodes, passed away before I got the chance. I'll catch up with both of them later, I guess. Until then, I think it's time I give "Bald Headed Lena" a spin on the turntable.

Joe

Harry Hess · Post by **Harry Hess** » 2 Jan 2003 9:38 pm

What a real drag. When we loose a great player, I try to console myself by at least thinking about how they got to enjoy some big time fun and at least they got to leave their mark in the great tree of American music. God bless Zal.

Regards,
HH