Trade Regrets: Carol Jones Zadel, Concert Organist

Carol Jones Zadel, who introduced new organs and keyboard products to music dealers worldwide for more than 40 years, passed away on March 6 at the Eisenhower Health – Rancho Mirage Medical Center, surrounded by family and close friends. She was 72.

Carol, who lived in La Quinta, California, was best defined as a tireless advocate for music education, a guiding mentor, and devoted wife. Her sharp technical abilities and warm, down-to-earth personality made her among the most requested product artists in the organ industry. She was also one of the pioneers for women in the music products industry.

Born Carol Leigh Jones on July 23, 1949, in Covina, California, to Earl Lee Jones and Lucille Elenor (Thomson) Jones, Carol grew up in West Covina.

She showed extraordinary musical skill at an early age and benefited from working with some of the most famous teachers in the organ world, including Bill Thomson and George Wright.

While in high school, she got an early start in her career when she began to work as the sheet music department manager at Wallich’s Music City in West Covina. She soon moved to Gould Music in Covina and developed a busy teaching schedule.

Carol got a boost to her career at age 19, when Bill Thomson encouraged her to record her first album, “Have You Met Miss Jones.”

“God bless him,” Carol reflected on Bill in her Oral History conducted by the National Association of Music Merchants in 2007. “He really spent the time with me, and that just opened the door with the American Theater Organ Society.”

For the next few years, she played the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, the Redford Theatre and Senate Theater in Detroit, and numerous national American Theater Organ Society Conventions.

While she fully intended to pursue a career in theater organ performance, she soon realized greater opportunities in the electronic organ business.

She got her first big break in 1972 when she was hired as a product specialist for the Conn Organ Corporation, where she performed concerts, demonstrations, and product training sessions for retailers across the country.

While working at the Conn Organ Corporation, Carol met the company’s Director of Marketing, Robert F. Zadel. On January 29, 1977, the couple was married and quickly became known throughout the music products industry for their passion and devotion to music education.

Later in her career, Carol worked with Yamaha International, Lowrey Organs (Norlin Music), Kimball International, Gulbransen, Inc., Technics Musical Instruments/Panasonic Corp., Organ Exchange, Suzuki Digital and Italy’s Generalmusic.

In addition, she recorded over nine albums and several music videos featuring her organ performances, most notably one showcasing the popular Conn 653 organ, and arranged and produced by the famous George Wright.

A devout Roman Catholic convert, Carol and her late husband, Bob, were active at Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert, where she was a long-time eucharistic minister. She also participated in other ministerial programs, including that of Chaplain at the Eisenhower Medical Center and other healthcare facilities in the Coachella Valley.

Carol is survived by her aunt, Norma Mast, cousins Tracey and Seanne Mast, cousin Nancy Baker, niece Taylor Myers (Travis), brother-in-law Bill Zadel, cousin Alexandra O’Conner (Tyler), her white Labradors, Tasha and Lexi; and Jack Russell, Katie; as well as countless family and friends. She is predeceased by her husband, Bob, parents Earl and Lucille, brother Mark and her stepdaughter Pam Zadel.

Services will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 43775 Deep Canyon Rd., Palm Desert, California, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2022. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Museum of Making Music, 5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008 in Carol and Robert Zadel’s names. Interment will be private at Riverside National Cemetery.

The Jones Zadel family would like to thank the entire music products industry for its support, love, and strong belief in Carol, whose legendary passion for and devotion to her work made her loved by all. They would also like to thank the staff of Eisenhower Medical Center for its kindness, help and support in providing Carol’s care, as well as extend its deepest appreciation to all their friends for their outpouring of love and support.