Via Sideshow we learn that Zal Yanovsky, guitarist of the Lovin' Spoonful has died at 58. As this glowing recap of his life proclaims, he "worked [a] lifetime of magic."

In his later life, Zal, who was once known as "the Jewish Ringo Starr" (see the picture in the article and you will know why), lived in Kingston, Canada where he and his wife restored an 1880's livery stable into a very popular restaurant, Chez Piggy, that became widely known both as a gathering place and for its food. The couple were awarded a historic restoration award for their work.

Zal died suddenly of a heart attack on his farm on Dec. 13. He left the Lovin' Spoonful in 1967, and with a large cash settlement, was able to pursue his other dreams. For those of you too young to remember, and we assume that's most of you, their big hit was "Do You Believe In Magic?" If we had to compare the group to another, it would most likely be the Mamas and Papas. The lead singer was John Sebastian, who is still alive, touring and playing jug band music.