Known for his songwriting, sound quality, and commitment to excellence, Peter Yarrow, along with Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers, made up the popular folk group Peter, Paul and Mary. The trio produced such standard 1960s hits as "Blowin' in the Wind," "If I Had a Hammer," and "Puff the Magic Dragon." Much of their music centered around the social issues and concerns of the times, including war, homelessness, the environment, world hunger, apartheid, and the Sanctuary Movement. Peter Yarrow was born in New York City in 1938. His singing career began after receiving a psychology degree from Cornell University. Upon graduating, he went to Greenwich Village, where he met up with Noel Stookey and Mary Travers. Albert Grossman, the trio's manager, assembled and encouraged the group. After rehearsing for seven months, they were ready to make their public debut. In 1961 the band performed in the Greenwich Village coffeehouse Bitter End. This eventually led to other dates in folk clubs in Chicago and San Francisco. After rousing success at the Blue Angel nightclub in New York, the group began a national tour that lasted almost ten years. While on tour, the band recorded many songs and albums. In 1962, Warner Bros. Records released their first album, Peter, Paul & Mary. The record remained in the Top Ten for ten months, in the Top 20 for two years, and sold more than two million copies. One year later, the trio had three albums on the charts, which included the hits "Puff the Magic Dragon," written by Yarrow and Leonard Lipton, and "Blowin' in the Wind," which was written by Bob Dylan. During 1963, Peter, Paul and Mary were also living their songs, performing at fundraisers, demonstrations, and teach-ins in the anti-Vietnam War crusade. Yarrow helped organize the March on Washington in 1969 that featured the trio. The group also devoted some of their time to seeking out new musicians. In 1970, they performed Gordon Lightfoot's "In the Early Morning Rain" and John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane." It was also in 1970 that the three disbanded to pursue solo careers. Yarrow concentrated on his songwriting and political convictions. He co-wrote "Torn Between Two Lovers," a number one hit for Mary McGregor. He produced three CBS television specials based on "Puff the Magic Dragon," which earned him an Emmy nomination. In 1978, Yarrow organized Survival Sunday, an anti-nuclear benefit, and was once again joined by his comrades Stookey and Travers. Although their reunion inspired them to join forces and tour as Peter, Paul and Mary, all three still pursued solo careers and interests. The band incorporated new songs on their tours, including "El Salvador," a tune about the sufferings in Central America. Yarrow produced "Light One Candle," written for the peace process in Israel in 1985. The group made their television debut in 1986 when they did the PBS special 25th Anniversary Concert. The performance was on behalf of the New York Coalition for the Homeless. It was one of the most popular, successful specials in PBS history. Another television special, A Holiday Concert, featured the group with the New York Choral Society and a 40-piece orchestra. The band signed again with Warner Brothers Records in 1992 and produced their popular children's album, Peter, Paul and Mommy. The album earned a Grammy nomination and the live concert an Emmy nomination. The group reunited with other popular folk singers in their 1996 television show Lifelines, which was devoted to the folk community and included such folk stars as Ronnie Gilbert, Fred Hellerman, Richie Havens, Susan Werner, Odetta, and Tom Paxton. Peter Yarrow's ability to write songs about social concerns made him an internationally recognized singer and songwriter. His part in the success of Peter, Paul and Mary made him a folk legend. Peter Yarrow died on January 7, 2025, after a four-year struggle with bladder cancer. He was 86 years of age. ~ Kim Summers, Rovi

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Peter Yarrow

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