YATA

Yata (aka Steve Peinovich) entertained us on Mother’s Day, May 9, with an entrancing medley of songs, many of which he had written. The syncopation of “M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i—follow the river, follow the river to the sea,” the sweet strains of “Up above love,” created by his 9 year-old daughter, rollicking tunes about outhouses or the town called Hell on the fjord all captured the attention of the audience. His wife, Jean Accola, stepped in from time to time to accompany him on the bass guitar.

As a singer, guitarist, and prolific songwriter for over thirty years, Yata has recorded seven albums of original music, appeared with Garrison Keillor on the Prairie Home Companion and in other concert venues. In addition, he has opened for the folk giants Tom Paxton, Charlie Schmidt and John Hammond, Jr. and has been awarded a Minnesota Music Award for Best Folk Band in 1980 with ARTESIAN DREAMS. He performs and organizes music in theaters, arenas, coffeehouses, colleges and festivals across the Midwest and has collaborated with musicians, poets, and songwriters.

Yata lives in rural Wisconsin, rearing two children with his wife, the artist Jean Accola.

Check out his website: www.yatayata.com