Lahav performed and provided violin and vocals on two of Springsteen’s albums, including Born to Run
The Israeli violinist Tzruya ’Suki’ Lahav, who was known for playing violin with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, has died aged 74. Her death was announced by her son Yonatan Lahav on 2 April 2026, who confirmed she died of cancer.
Lahav played with the E Street Band briefly from October 1974 to March 1975, during which time she performed in sessions for Springsteen’s album The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, and its follow-up Born to Run – on which, she is notably heard in the violin introduction to ‘Jungleland’.
Lahav connected with Springsteen and his band when her husband Louis Lahav worked as a sound engineer on Springsteen’s debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. in 1972. Her debut with Springsteen and his group was at Avery Fisher Hall in New York in October 1974.
Springsteen posted a tribute on social media: ’Here on E Street, we’re heartbroken over the passing of Suki Lahav. Her angelic voice shone on ‘4th of July’, ‘Asbury Park (Sandy)’ and her beautiful violin brought great drama to the ‘Jungleland’ intro.
‘She also blessed our stage with her beauty and grace in our early touring days. She was a wonderful friend, may she rest with the angels.’
Following her stint with Springsteen and the E Street Band, Lahav moved back to Israel, where she found success as a performer and songwriter. She wrote the song ‘Shara Barkhovot’, which was Israel’s entry in the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest.
She was the recipient of the Association of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers (ACUM) LIfetime Achievement Award and the Arik Einstein Prize, for her musical achievements and contributions in Israel.
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